Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010
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 circula...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Ocean Science |
| Online Access: | http://www.ocean-sci.net/10/683/2014/os-10-683-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819002481181458432 |
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| author | H. L. Bryden B. A. King G. D. McCarthy E. L. McDonagh |
| author_facet | H. L. Bryden B. A. King G. D. McCarthy E. L. McDonagh |
| author_sort | H. L. Bryden |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T23:05:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b575ccf5379486db007172677c85279 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T23:05:47Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ocean Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b575ccf5379486db007172677c852792022-12-21T19:23:52ZengCopernicus PublicationsOcean Science1812-07841812-07922014-08-0110468369110.5194/os-10-683-2014Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010H. L. Bryden0B. A. King1G. D. McCarthy2E. L. McDonagh3National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Empress Dock, Southampton, UKNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton, Empress Dock, Southampton, UKNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton, Empress Dock, Southampton, UKNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton, Empress Dock, Southampton, UKThe 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.http://www.ocean-sci.net/10/683/2014/os-10-683-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | H. L. Bryden B. A. King G. D. McCarthy E. L. McDonagh Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010 Ocean Science |
| title | Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010 |
| title_full | Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010 |
| title_fullStr | Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010 |
| title_short | Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010 |
| title_sort | impact of a 30 reduction in atlantic meridional overturning during 2009 ndash 2010 |
| url | http://www.ocean-sci.net/10/683/2014/os-10-683-2014.pdf |
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