SEA LEVEL ANOMALIES IN THE LABRADOR SEA

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Labrador Sea; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.570.1998; http://earth.esa.int/workshops/venice06/participants/184/paper_184_funk.pdf

The shallow circulation variability in the subpolar North Atlantic is analyzed using altimeter sea level anomalies from 1993 to 2004. Empirical orthogonal function analysis shows a long-term trend for the whole study area while a more localized analysis in the Labrador Sea shows patterns of interannual variability but no long-term trends. Largest variability is found in the western boundary current near 53°N in combination with a recirculation cell farther offshore. General agreement between velocity anomalies derived from altimetry and by moored instrumentation is found. An intensification of the recirculation cell may be associated with an increase of northward warm water transport. This variability pattern is supported by variations in microwave sea surface temperatures. 1.