Regional Variation in Extratropical North Atlantic Air‐Sea Interaction 1960–2020

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: Latif, Mojib, Martin, Thomas, Bielke, Inken
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: AGU (American Geophysical Union) 2024
• Subjects: North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/60428/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/60428/1/Geophysical%20Research%20Letters%20-%202024%20-%20Latif%20-%20Regional%20Variation%20in%20Extratropical%20North%20Atlantic%20Air%E2%80%90Sea%20Interaction%201960.pdf; https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2024GL108174; https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108174

Air-sea interaction in late boreal winter is studied over the extratropical North Atlantic (NA) during 1960–2020 by examining the relationship between sea-surface temperature (SST) and total turbulent heat flux (THF). The two quantities are positively correlated on interannual timescales over the central-midlatitude and subpolar NA, suggesting the atmosphere on average drives SST and THF variability is independent of SST. On decadal timescales and over the central-midlatitude NA the correlation is negative, suggesting ocean processes on average drive SST and THF variability is sensitive to SST. The correlation is positive over the subpolar NA. There, interannual and decadal THF variability is governed by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). During the major late 20th and early 21st century SST increase in the subpolar NA diminishing oceanic heat loss associated with a weakening NAO was observed. This study suggests that the atmosphere is more sensitive to SST over the central-midlatitude than subpolar NA. Key Points: - Regional variation in the nature of air-sea interaction over the extratropical North Atlantic (NA) north of 35°N - Timescale dependence in relationship between sea-surface temperature (SST) and turbulent heat flux over the central-midlatitude NA - The atmosphere is more sensitive to SST variability over the central-midlatitude than subpolar NA