Meridional overturning and oceanic heat transport circulation observations in the North Atlantic Ocean [in “State of the Climate in 2016”]
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 10:18authored byBaringer, MO, Smeed, DA, Willis, J, Lankhorst, M, William HobbsWilliam Hobbs, Dong, S, McCarthy, G, Rayner, D, Johns, WE, Goni, G, Send, U
This section describes the AMOC and the Atlantic meridional heat transport (AMHT), determined by the large-scale ocean circulation wherein northward moving upper layer waters are transformed into deep waters that return southward, redistributing heat, fresh water, carbon, and nutrients. Large variations in meridional heat transport are associated with strong MOC anomalies (e.g., correlations of 0.94, Johns et al. 2011) and northwesterly wind anomalies while monthly variability is more closely linked to the spatial structure associated with the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO; e.g., Moat et al. 2016). Observed cold North Atlantic sea surface temperatures were consistent with the decadal decrease in MOC transport at 26°N (e.g., Baringer et al. 2016). These large-scale ocean anomalies can subsequently impact European weather (e.g., Duchez et al. 2016). Many climate, weather, and ecosystem changes covary with changes in the AMOC (e.g., Srokosz and Bryden 2015; Carton et al. 2014; Srokosz et al. 2012).
History
Publication title
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Volume
98
Issue
8
Pagination
84-87
ISSN
0003-0007
Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
Publisher
Amer Meteorological Soc
Place of publication
45 Beacon St, Boston, USA, Ma, 02108-3693
Rights statement
Copyright August 2017 American Meteorological Society
Repository Status
Restricted
Socio-economic Objectives
Global effects of climate change (excl. Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the South Pacific) (excl. social impacts)