Lagrangian decomposition of the Atlantic Ocean heat transport at 26.5°N

Tooth, Oliver J.; Foukal, Nicholas P.; Johns, William E.; Johnson, Helen L.; Wilson, Chris ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0891-2912. 2024 Lagrangian decomposition of the Atlantic Ocean heat transport at 26.5°N. Geophysical Research Letters, 51 (14). 10.1029/2023GL107399

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023GL107399

Abstract/Summary

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) plays a critical role in the global climate system through the redistribution of heat, freshwater and carbon. At 26.5°N, the meridional heat transport has traditionally been partitioned geometrically into vertical and horizontal circulation cells; however, attributing these components to the AMOC and Subtropical Gyre (STG) flow structures remains widely debated. Using water parcel trajectories evaluated within an eddy-rich ocean hindcast, we present the first Lagrangian decomposition of the meridional heat transport at 26.5°N. We find that water parcels recirculating within the STG account for 37% (0.36 PW) of the total heat transport across 26.5°N, more than twice that of the classical horizontal gyre component (15%). Our findings indicate that STG heat transport cannot be meaningfully distinguished from that of the basin-scale overturning since water parcels cooled within the gyre subsequently feed the northward, subsurface limb of the AMOC.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2023GL107399
ISSN:	0094-8276
Additional Keywords:	Lagrangrian trajectories, meridional heat transport, RAPID 26.5N, subtropical gyre, Atlantic meridional overturning circulation
Date made live:	24 Jul 2024 12:38 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537761

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1029/2023GL107399

ISSN:

0094-8276

Additional Keywords:

Lagrangrian trajectories, meridional heat transport, RAPID 26.5N, subtropical gyre, Atlantic meridional overturning circulation

Date made live:

24 Jul 2024 12:38 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537761