Observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26.5° N in the Atlantic
Daily timeseries of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) estimated from the UK/US RAPID/MOCHA array at 26.5° N in the Atlantic are used to evaluate the MOC as simulated in two global circulation models: (I) an 8-member ensemble of the coupled climate model ECHAM5/MPI-OM, and (II) the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2009-11-01
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| Series: | Ocean Science |
| Online Access: | http://www.ocean-sci.net/5/575/2009/os-5-575-2009.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818177602076016640 |
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| author | P. Heimbach T. Kanzow H. Haak S. Cunnningham J. Baehr J. Marotzke |
| author_facet | P. Heimbach T. Kanzow H. Haak S. Cunnningham J. Baehr J. Marotzke |
| author_sort | P. Heimbach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Daily timeseries of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) estimated from the UK/US RAPID/MOCHA array at 26.5° N in the Atlantic are used to evaluate the MOC as simulated in two global circulation models: (I) an 8-member ensemble of the coupled climate model ECHAM5/MPI-OM, and (II) the ECCO-GODAE state estimate. In ECHAM5/MPI-OM, we find that the observed and simulated MOC have a similar variability and time-mean within the 99% confidence interval. In ECCO-GODAE, we find that the observed and simulated MOC show a significant correlation within the 99% confidence interval. To investigate the contribution of the different transport components, the MOC is decomposed into Florida Current, Ekman and mid-ocean transports. In both models, the mid-ocean transport is closely approximated by the residual of the MOC minus Florida Current and Ekman transports. As the models conserve volume by definition, future comparisons of the RAPID/MOCHA mid-ocean transport should be done against the residual transport in the models. The similarity in the variance and the correlation between the RAPID/MOCHA, and respectively ECHAM5/MPI-OM and ECCO-GODAE MOC estimates at 26.5° N is encouraging in the context of estimating (natural) variability in climate simulations and its use in climate change signal-to-noise detection analyses. Enhanced confidence in simulated hydrographic and transport variability will require longer observational time series. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:34:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8bc742cd70104675a5b8c8103d7809fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:34:41Z |
| publishDate | 2009-11-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ocean Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-8bc742cd70104675a5b8c8103d7809fe2022-12-22T00:51:42ZengCopernicus PublicationsOcean Science1812-07841812-07922009-11-0154575589Observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26.5° N in the AtlanticP. HeimbachT. KanzowH. HaakS. CunnninghamJ. BaehrJ. MarotzkeDaily timeseries of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) estimated from the UK/US RAPID/MOCHA array at 26.5° N in the Atlantic are used to evaluate the MOC as simulated in two global circulation models: (I) an 8-member ensemble of the coupled climate model ECHAM5/MPI-OM, and (II) the ECCO-GODAE state estimate. In ECHAM5/MPI-OM, we find that the observed and simulated MOC have a similar variability and time-mean within the 99% confidence interval. In ECCO-GODAE, we find that the observed and simulated MOC show a significant correlation within the 99% confidence interval. To investigate the contribution of the different transport components, the MOC is decomposed into Florida Current, Ekman and mid-ocean transports. In both models, the mid-ocean transport is closely approximated by the residual of the MOC minus Florida Current and Ekman transports. As the models conserve volume by definition, future comparisons of the RAPID/MOCHA mid-ocean transport should be done against the residual transport in the models. The similarity in the variance and the correlation between the RAPID/MOCHA, and respectively ECHAM5/MPI-OM and ECCO-GODAE MOC estimates at 26.5° N is encouraging in the context of estimating (natural) variability in climate simulations and its use in climate change signal-to-noise detection analyses. Enhanced confidence in simulated hydrographic and transport variability will require longer observational time series.http://www.ocean-sci.net/5/575/2009/os-5-575-2009.pdf |
| spellingShingle | P. Heimbach T. Kanzow H. Haak S. Cunnningham J. Baehr J. Marotzke Observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26.5° N in the Atlantic Ocean Science |
| title | Observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26.5° N in the Atlantic |
| title_full | Observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26.5° N in the Atlantic |
| title_fullStr | Observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26.5° N in the Atlantic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26.5° N in the Atlantic |
| title_short | Observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26.5° N in the Atlantic |
| title_sort | observed and simulated estimates of the meridional overturning circulation at 26 5 deg n in the atlantic |
| url | http://www.ocean-sci.net/5/575/2009/os-5-575-2009.pdf |
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