On the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the Atlantic polar low region

The occurrence of destructive mesoscale 'polar low' cyclones in the subpolar North Atlantic is projected to decline under anthropogenic change, due to an increase in atmospheric static stability. This letter reports on the role of changes in ocean circulation in shaping the atmospheric sta...

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Main Authors: Woollings, T, Harvey, B, Zahn, M, Shaffrey, L
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2012
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author Woollings, T
Harvey, B
Zahn, M
Shaffrey, L
author_facet Woollings, T
Harvey, B
Zahn, M
Shaffrey, L
author_sort Woollings, T
collection OXFORD
description The occurrence of destructive mesoscale 'polar low' cyclones in the subpolar North Atlantic is projected to decline under anthropogenic change, due to an increase in atmospheric static stability. This letter reports on the role of changes in ocean circulation in shaping the atmospheric stability. In particular, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is projected to weaken in response to anthropogenic forcing, leading to a local minimum in warming in this region. The reduced warming is restricted to the lower troposphere, hence contributing to the increase in static stability. Linear correlation analysis of the CMIP3 climate model ensemble suggests that around half of the model uncertainty in the projected stability response arises from the varied response of the AMOC between models. © 2012. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
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spelling oxford-uuid:3c2a05d3-7c74-4b7c-a59b-1e23d176972a2022-03-26T14:11:54ZOn the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the Atlantic polar low regionJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:3c2a05d3-7c74-4b7c-a59b-1e23d176972aEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2012Woollings, THarvey, BZahn, MShaffrey, LThe occurrence of destructive mesoscale 'polar low' cyclones in the subpolar North Atlantic is projected to decline under anthropogenic change, due to an increase in atmospheric static stability. This letter reports on the role of changes in ocean circulation in shaping the atmospheric stability. In particular, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is projected to weaken in response to anthropogenic forcing, leading to a local minimum in warming in this region. The reduced warming is restricted to the lower troposphere, hence contributing to the increase in static stability. Linear correlation analysis of the CMIP3 climate model ensemble suggests that around half of the model uncertainty in the projected stability response arises from the varied response of the AMOC between models. © 2012. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
spellingShingle Woollings, T
Harvey, B
Zahn, M
Shaffrey, L
On the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the Atlantic polar low region
title On the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the Atlantic polar low region
title_full On the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the Atlantic polar low region
title_fullStr On the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the Atlantic polar low region
title_full_unstemmed On the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the Atlantic polar low region
title_short On the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the Atlantic polar low region
title_sort on the role of the ocean in projected atmospheric stability changes in the atlantic polar low region
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