Normal modes in North Atlantic atmosphere-ocean system and predicting North Atlantic sea surface temperature

We identify an interdecadal oscillatory mode of the North Atlantic atmosphere-ocean system via a Linear Inverse Model (LIM). This mode is shown to be related to the interior pathway propagation of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) anomalies. The oscillation is an ocean-only mode whi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Zhao, Bowen
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: University of Utah 2016
Subjects:
General circulation modes
Normal modes
North Atlantic atmosphere-ocean system
Ocean dynamics
Sea surface temperature
North Atlantic
North Atlantic oscillation
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.26053/0h-f26a-4tg0
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s67w9mjp
Description
Summary:We identify an interdecadal oscillatory mode of the North Atlantic atmosphere-ocean system via a Linear Inverse Model (LIM). This mode is shown to be related to the interior pathway propagation of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) anomalies. The oscillation is an ocean-only mode while excited by atmospheric forcing; in particular, it can be approximated as a linearly driven damped oscillator while the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) acts as part of the ''external" force. We also show that the influence of NAO-induced surface wind stress forcing quickly damps while the NAO-induced deep flow anomaly, integrating with ocean topography, plays a crucial role in this interdecadal mode. Including such deep ocean dynamics besides surface temperature (SST) significantly improves and prolongs the LIM's prediction skill of SST evolution.

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