Midlatitude ocean-atmosphere interaction in an idealized coupled model ...

• Main Authors: Kravtsov, S., Robertson, Andrew W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Columbia University 2002
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Oceanography; FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8bk1p30; https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8BK1P30

Interannual-to-interdecadal ocean-atmosphere interaction in midlatitudes is studied using an idealized coupled model consisting of eddy resolving two-layer quasi-geostrophic oceanic and atmospheric components with a simple diagnostic oceanic mixed layer. The model solutions exhibit structure and variability that resemble qualitatively some aspects of the observed climate variability over the North Atlantic. The atmospheric climatology is characterized by a zonally modulated jet. The single-basin ocean climatology consists of a midlatitude double jet that represents the Gulf Stream and Labrador currents, which are parts of the subtropical and subpolar gyres, respectively. The leading mode of the atmospheric low-frequency variability consists predominantly of meridional displacements of the zonal jet, with a local maximum over the ocean. The first basin-scale mode of sea-surface temperature has a red power spectrum, is largely of one polarity and bears qualitative similarities with the observed interdecadal ...