Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation During the 1990s
Observations of sea surface height reveal that substantial changes have occurred over the past decade in the mid- to high-latitude North Atlantic Ocean. TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter data show that subpolar sea surface height increased during the 1990s, and the geostrophic velocity derived from altimeter...
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American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2004
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1094917 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1094917 |
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craaas:10.1126/science.1094917 2024-09-30T14:38:11+00:00 Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation During the 1990s Häkkinen, Sirpa Rhines, Peter B. 2004 http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1094917 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1094917 en eng American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science volume 304, issue 5670, page 555-559 ISSN 0036-8075 1095-9203 journal-article 2004 craaas https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094917 2024-09-12T04:01:43Z Observations of sea surface height reveal that substantial changes have occurred over the past decade in the mid- to high-latitude North Atlantic Ocean. TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter data show that subpolar sea surface height increased during the 1990s, and the geostrophic velocity derived from altimeter data exhibits declining subpolar gyre circulation. Combining the data from earlier satellites, we find that subpolar circulation may have been weaker in the late 1990s than in the late 1970s and 1980s. Direct current-meter observations in the boundary current of the Labrador Sea support the weakening circulation trend of the 1990s and, together with hydrographic data, show that the mid- to late 1990s decline extends deep in the water column. Analysis of the local surface forcing suggests that the 1990s buoyancy forcing has a dynamic effect consistent with altimetric and hydrographic observations: A weak thermohaline forcing allows the decay of the domed structure of subpolar isopycnals and weakening of circulation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Labrador Sea North Atlantic AAAS Resource Center (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Science 304 5670 555 559 |
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Open Polar |
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AAAS Resource Center (American Association for the Advancement of Science) |
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craaas |
language |
English |
description |
Observations of sea surface height reveal that substantial changes have occurred over the past decade in the mid- to high-latitude North Atlantic Ocean. TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter data show that subpolar sea surface height increased during the 1990s, and the geostrophic velocity derived from altimeter data exhibits declining subpolar gyre circulation. Combining the data from earlier satellites, we find that subpolar circulation may have been weaker in the late 1990s than in the late 1970s and 1980s. Direct current-meter observations in the boundary current of the Labrador Sea support the weakening circulation trend of the 1990s and, together with hydrographic data, show that the mid- to late 1990s decline extends deep in the water column. Analysis of the local surface forcing suggests that the 1990s buoyancy forcing has a dynamic effect consistent with altimetric and hydrographic observations: A weak thermohaline forcing allows the decay of the domed structure of subpolar isopycnals and weakening of circulation. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Häkkinen, Sirpa Rhines, Peter B. |
spellingShingle |
Häkkinen, Sirpa Rhines, Peter B. Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation During the 1990s |
author_facet |
Häkkinen, Sirpa Rhines, Peter B. |
author_sort |
Häkkinen, Sirpa |
title |
Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation During the 1990s |
title_short |
Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation During the 1990s |
title_full |
Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation During the 1990s |
title_fullStr |
Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation During the 1990s |
title_full_unstemmed |
Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation During the 1990s |
title_sort |
decline of subpolar north atlantic circulation during the 1990s |
publisher |
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1094917 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1094917 |
genre |
Labrador Sea North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Labrador Sea North Atlantic |
op_source |
Science volume 304, issue 5670, page 555-559 ISSN 0036-8075 1095-9203 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094917 |
container_title |
Science |
container_volume |
304 |
container_issue |
5670 |
container_start_page |
555 |
op_container_end_page |
559 |
_version_ |
1811640897737064448 |