Graphical Abstract

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Kawai, Y., H. Nishikawa, and E. Oka, 2019: In situ evidence of low-level atmospheric responses to the Oyashio front in early spring. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 97, 423-438.
https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2019-024   Graphical Abstract with highlights

Plain Language Summary: In situ observations to capture atmospheric responses to the Oyashio (or subarctic) sea surface temperature (SST) front had not been carried out. Our intensive observations showed clear contrasts in the low-level atmosphere and cloud across the Oyashio front. Furthermore, we observed narrow, warm ocean areas with a width of a few kilometers and their effects on the atmosphere.

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Highlights:

• In situ observations corroborated contrasts in the atmospheric marine boundary layer and cloud base height between the warm and cold sides of the Oyashio front.
• Sea level pressure anomaly caused by horizontal differential heating from the sea surface across the Oyashio front was estimated to at 1.2 hPa.
• Warm ocean streamers with a width of a few tens kilometers also significantly affected the atmosphere.