Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic
We investigate if and how the monitoring strategy for the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) implemented at 26°N in the Atlantic can also be applied at a latitude in the South Atlantic. The RAPID 26°N strategy to monitor the MOC is based on continuous measurements of zonal density differences...
Published in: | Ocean Modelling |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2009
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14743/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14743/1/Baehr2009p4699Ocean_Model.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090730-121637385 |
id |
ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:14743 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:14743 2023-05-15T17:30:52+02:00 Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic Baehr, Johanna Stroup, Adrianne Marotzke, Jochem 2009-03-31 application/pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14743/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14743/1/Baehr2009p4699Ocean_Model.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090730-121637385 en eng Elsevier https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14743/1/Baehr2009p4699Ocean_Model.pdf Baehr, Johanna and Stroup, Adrianne and Marotzke, Jochem (2009) Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic. Ocean Modelling, 29 (2). pp. 147-153. ISSN 1463-5003. doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.03.005. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090730-121637385 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090730-121637385> other Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.03.005 2021-11-11T18:42:31Z We investigate if and how the monitoring strategy for the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) implemented at 26°N in the Atlantic can also be applied at a latitude in the South Atlantic. The RAPID 26°N strategy to monitor the MOC is based on continuous measurements of zonal density differences across a zonal transect, continuous measurements of the western boundary current, and additional estimates of the zonal wind stress from satellite observations. Here, we simulate a monitoring array akin to the RAPID array at 26°N in the global coupled climate ECHAM5/MPI-OM, forced with the IPCC scenario A1B. We find that the monitoring strategy can provide reliable estimates of the MOC in the South Atlantic, but the latitude needs to be carefully chosen to ensure adequate coverage of the variability arriving from both the north and the south. The limitations in the North Atlantic apply in the South Atlantic, however, we find that direct boundary current observations and bottom velocity measurements are of lesser importance for the time-mean value and the variability than in the North Atlantic. However, western boundary observations and bottom velocity measurements are crucial in capturing the vertical structure of the MOC correctly. We suggest that basin-wide MOC monitoring based on the RAPID strategy at 26°N be conducted only where boundary currents do not hit steep topography, and where bottom velocities are small. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) Ocean Modelling 29 2 147 153 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) |
op_collection_id |
ftcaltechauth |
language |
English |
description |
We investigate if and how the monitoring strategy for the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) implemented at 26°N in the Atlantic can also be applied at a latitude in the South Atlantic. The RAPID 26°N strategy to monitor the MOC is based on continuous measurements of zonal density differences across a zonal transect, continuous measurements of the western boundary current, and additional estimates of the zonal wind stress from satellite observations. Here, we simulate a monitoring array akin to the RAPID array at 26°N in the global coupled climate ECHAM5/MPI-OM, forced with the IPCC scenario A1B. We find that the monitoring strategy can provide reliable estimates of the MOC in the South Atlantic, but the latitude needs to be carefully chosen to ensure adequate coverage of the variability arriving from both the north and the south. The limitations in the North Atlantic apply in the South Atlantic, however, we find that direct boundary current observations and bottom velocity measurements are of lesser importance for the time-mean value and the variability than in the North Atlantic. However, western boundary observations and bottom velocity measurements are crucial in capturing the vertical structure of the MOC correctly. We suggest that basin-wide MOC monitoring based on the RAPID strategy at 26°N be conducted only where boundary currents do not hit steep topography, and where bottom velocities are small. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Baehr, Johanna Stroup, Adrianne Marotzke, Jochem |
spellingShingle |
Baehr, Johanna Stroup, Adrianne Marotzke, Jochem Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic |
author_facet |
Baehr, Johanna Stroup, Adrianne Marotzke, Jochem |
author_sort |
Baehr, Johanna |
title |
Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic |
title_short |
Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic |
title_full |
Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic |
title_fullStr |
Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic |
title_sort |
testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the south atlantic |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14743/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14743/1/Baehr2009p4699Ocean_Model.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090730-121637385 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14743/1/Baehr2009p4699Ocean_Model.pdf Baehr, Johanna and Stroup, Adrianne and Marotzke, Jochem (2009) Testing concepts for continuous monitoring of the meridional overturning circulation in the South Atlantic. Ocean Modelling, 29 (2). pp. 147-153. ISSN 1463-5003. doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.03.005. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090730-121637385 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090730-121637385> |
op_rights |
other |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2009.03.005 |
container_title |
Ocean Modelling |
container_volume |
29 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
147 |
op_container_end_page |
153 |
_version_ |
1766127993015500800 |