Climate change impacts on ocean circulation relevant to the UK and Ireland

• Main Authors: McCarthy, G, Burmeister, K, Cunningham, S, Düsterhus, A, Frajka-Williams, E, Graham, J, Hodge, K, Holliday, N, Inall, M, Jackson, L, Menary, M, Moat, B, Moffa-Sanchez, P, Oltmanns, M, Polton, J, Rabe, B, Robson, J, Thornalley, David
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Climate change; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10175081/1/Climate%20Change%20Impacts%20on%20Ocean%20Circulation%20Relevant%20to%20the%20UK%20and%20Ireland.pdf; https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10175081/

1.: Observations of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or Gulf Stream System since the 1980s have shown a strengthening in the 1990s and a weakening in the 2000s, with no clear overall trend. 2.: Shifts in North-east Atlantic circulation, leading to a greater influence of warmer subtropical-origin waters which can impact marine ecosystems and economically important fish species such as mackerel. The changing subpolar ocean circulation is also having impacts on the food supply for deep-sea ecosystems. 3.: The subpolar gyre recorded its freshest values on record in the 2010s. Ongoing freshwater build-up in the rapidly changing Arctic Ocean may exacerbate this freshening. 4.: Projections from climate models consistently project a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation due to anthropogenic climate change. 5.: Warming of Atlantic waters is expected to reduce the depth of mixed layers and limit nutrient supply to surface layers.