Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009-2010

Bryden, H.L.; King, B.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1338-3234; McCarthy, G.D.; McDonagh, E.L.. 2014 Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009-2010. Ocean Science, 10 (4). 683-691. 10.5194/os-10-683-2014

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text
os-10-683-2014.pdf
Download (4MB) | Preview

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/os-10-683-2014

Abstract/Summary

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation comprises warm upper waters flowing northward, becoming colder and denser until they form deep water in the Labrador and Nordic Seas that then returns southward through the North and South Atlantic. The ocean heat transport associated with this circulation is 1.3 PW, accounting for 25% of the maximum combined atmosphere–ocean heat transport necessary to balance the Earth's radiation budget. We have been monitoring the circulation at 25° N since 2004. A 30% slowdown in the circulation for 14 months during 2009–2010 reduced northward ocean heat transport across 25° N by 0.4 PW and resulted in colder upper ocean waters north of 25° N and warmer waters south of 25° N. The spatial pattern of upper ocean temperature anomalies helped push the wintertime circulation 2010–2011 into record-low negative NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) conditions with accompanying severe winter conditions over northwestern Europe. The warmer temperatures south of 25° N contributed to the high intensity hurricane season in summer 2010.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.5194/os-10-683-2014
ISSN:	1812-0792
Date made live:	01 Sep 2014 10:32 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508282

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.5194/os-10-683-2014

ISSN:

1812-0792

Date made live:

01 Sep 2014 10:32 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508282