Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation
Predicting the evolution of climate over decadal timescales requires a quantitative understanding of the dynamics that govern the meridional overturning circulation (MOC)1. Comprehensive ocean measurement programmes aiming to monitor MOC variations have been established in the subtropical North Atla...
Published in: | Nature |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2008
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8189/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8189/1/nature07426.pdf https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07426 |
id |
ftoceanrep:oai:oceanrep.geomar.de:8189 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftoceanrep:oai:oceanrep.geomar.de:8189 2023-05-15T15:07:59+02:00 Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation Biastoch, Arne Böning, Claus W. Lutjeharms, J. R. E. 2008 text https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8189/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8189/1/nature07426.pdf https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07426 en eng Nature Publishing Group https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8189/1/nature07426.pdf Biastoch, A. , Böning, C. W. and Lutjeharms, J. R. E. (2008) Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation. Nature, 456 . pp. 489-492. DOI 10.1038/nature07426 <https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07426>. doi:10.1038/nature07426 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Article PeerReviewed 2008 ftoceanrep https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07426 2023-04-07T14:56:13Z Predicting the evolution of climate over decadal timescales requires a quantitative understanding of the dynamics that govern the meridional overturning circulation (MOC)1. Comprehensive ocean measurement programmes aiming to monitor MOC variations have been established in the subtropical North Atlantic2, 3 (RAPID, at latitude 26.5° N, and MOVE, at latitude 16° N) and show strong variability on intraseasonal to interannual timescales. Observational evidence of longer-term changes in MOC transport remains scarce, owing to infrequent sampling of transoceanic sections over past decades4, 5. Inferences based on long-term sea surface temperature records, however, supported by model simulations, suggest a variability with an amplitude of plusminus1.5–3 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s-1) on decadal timescales in the subtropics6. Such variability has been attributed to variations of deep water formation in the sub-arctic Atlantic, particularly the renewal rate of Labrador Sea Water7. Here we present results from a model simulation that suggest an additional influence on decadal MOC variability having a Southern Hemisphere origin: dynamic signals originating in the Agulhas leakage region at the southern tip of Africa. These contribute a MOC signal in the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic that is of the same order of magnitude as the northern source. A complete rationalization of observed MOC changes therefore also requires consideration of signals arriving from the south. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Labrador Sea North Atlantic OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) Arctic Nature 456 7221 489 492 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) |
op_collection_id |
ftoceanrep |
language |
English |
description |
Predicting the evolution of climate over decadal timescales requires a quantitative understanding of the dynamics that govern the meridional overturning circulation (MOC)1. Comprehensive ocean measurement programmes aiming to monitor MOC variations have been established in the subtropical North Atlantic2, 3 (RAPID, at latitude 26.5° N, and MOVE, at latitude 16° N) and show strong variability on intraseasonal to interannual timescales. Observational evidence of longer-term changes in MOC transport remains scarce, owing to infrequent sampling of transoceanic sections over past decades4, 5. Inferences based on long-term sea surface temperature records, however, supported by model simulations, suggest a variability with an amplitude of plusminus1.5–3 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s-1) on decadal timescales in the subtropics6. Such variability has been attributed to variations of deep water formation in the sub-arctic Atlantic, particularly the renewal rate of Labrador Sea Water7. Here we present results from a model simulation that suggest an additional influence on decadal MOC variability having a Southern Hemisphere origin: dynamic signals originating in the Agulhas leakage region at the southern tip of Africa. These contribute a MOC signal in the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic that is of the same order of magnitude as the northern source. A complete rationalization of observed MOC changes therefore also requires consideration of signals arriving from the south. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Biastoch, Arne Böning, Claus W. Lutjeharms, J. R. E. |
spellingShingle |
Biastoch, Arne Böning, Claus W. Lutjeharms, J. R. E. Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation |
author_facet |
Biastoch, Arne Böning, Claus W. Lutjeharms, J. R. E. |
author_sort |
Biastoch, Arne |
title |
Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation |
title_short |
Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation |
title_full |
Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation |
title_fullStr |
Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation |
title_sort |
agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in atlantic overturning circulation |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8189/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8189/1/nature07426.pdf https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07426 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Labrador Sea North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Arctic Labrador Sea North Atlantic |
op_relation |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/8189/1/nature07426.pdf Biastoch, A. , Böning, C. W. and Lutjeharms, J. R. E. (2008) Agulhas leakage dynamics affects decadal variability in Atlantic overturning circulation. Nature, 456 . pp. 489-492. DOI 10.1038/nature07426 <https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07426>. doi:10.1038/nature07426 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07426 |
container_title |
Nature |
container_volume |
456 |
container_issue |
7221 |
container_start_page |
489 |
op_container_end_page |
492 |
_version_ |
1766339422924570624 |