High-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the AMOC in a climate model of intermediate complexity
Centennial-scale variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) in the absence of external forcing has been identified in several climate models, but proposed mechanisms differ considerably. Therefore, better understanding of processes governing AMOC variability at these times...
Published in: | Climate Dynamics |
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10281/436180 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06640-3 |
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ftunivmilanobic:oai:boa.unimib.it:10281/436180 2024-04-14T08:06:53+00:00 High-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the AMOC in a climate model of intermediate complexity Mehling O. Bellomo K. Angeloni M. Pasquero C. von Hardenberg J. Mehling, O Bellomo, K Angeloni, M Pasquero, C von Hardenberg, J 2023 STAMPA https://hdl.handle.net/10281/436180 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06640-3 eng eng Springer country:DE info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000905451400001 volume:61 issue:3-4 firstpage:1519 lastpage:1534 numberofpages:16 journal:CLIMATE DYNAMICS https://hdl.handle.net/10281/436180 doi:10.1007/s00382-022-06640-3 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-85145104881 AMOC Arctic Ocean Centennial climate variability Climate model EMIC North Atlantic info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2023 ftunivmilanobic https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06640-3 2024-03-21T16:15:25Z Centennial-scale variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) in the absence of external forcing has been identified in several climate models, but proposed mechanisms differ considerably. Therefore, better understanding of processes governing AMOC variability at these timescales is needed. Here, we analyze numerical simulations with PlaSim-LSG, an Earth System Model Intermediate Complexity (EMIC), which exhibits strong multicentennial oscillations of AMOC strength under constant pre-industrial boundary conditions. We identify a novel mechanism in which these oscillations are driven by salinity anomalies from the Arctic Ocean, which can be attributed to changes in high-latitude precipitation. We further corroborate our findings by conducting a set of millennial-length sensitivity experiments, and we interpret the mechanism by formulating a three-box model which qualitatively reproduces regular oscillations of the AMOC. While PlaSim-LSG lacks complexity compared to state-of-the-art models, our results reveal that precipitation minus evaporation (P–E) change in the Arctic is a physically plausible driver of centennial-scale AMOC variability. We discuss how this mechanism might be most relevant in climate states warmer than the present-day, raising questions about the state-dependence of multicentennial AMOC variability. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Ocean North Atlantic Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca: BOA (Bicocca Open Archive) Arctic Arctic Ocean Climate Dynamics 61 3-4 1519 1534 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca: BOA (Bicocca Open Archive) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivmilanobic |
language |
English |
topic |
AMOC Arctic Ocean Centennial climate variability Climate model EMIC North Atlantic |
spellingShingle |
AMOC Arctic Ocean Centennial climate variability Climate model EMIC North Atlantic Mehling O. Bellomo K. Angeloni M. Pasquero C. von Hardenberg J. High-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the AMOC in a climate model of intermediate complexity |
topic_facet |
AMOC Arctic Ocean Centennial climate variability Climate model EMIC North Atlantic |
description |
Centennial-scale variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) in the absence of external forcing has been identified in several climate models, but proposed mechanisms differ considerably. Therefore, better understanding of processes governing AMOC variability at these timescales is needed. Here, we analyze numerical simulations with PlaSim-LSG, an Earth System Model Intermediate Complexity (EMIC), which exhibits strong multicentennial oscillations of AMOC strength under constant pre-industrial boundary conditions. We identify a novel mechanism in which these oscillations are driven by salinity anomalies from the Arctic Ocean, which can be attributed to changes in high-latitude precipitation. We further corroborate our findings by conducting a set of millennial-length sensitivity experiments, and we interpret the mechanism by formulating a three-box model which qualitatively reproduces regular oscillations of the AMOC. While PlaSim-LSG lacks complexity compared to state-of-the-art models, our results reveal that precipitation minus evaporation (P–E) change in the Arctic is a physically plausible driver of centennial-scale AMOC variability. We discuss how this mechanism might be most relevant in climate states warmer than the present-day, raising questions about the state-dependence of multicentennial AMOC variability. |
author2 |
Mehling, O Bellomo, K Angeloni, M Pasquero, C von Hardenberg, J |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mehling O. Bellomo K. Angeloni M. Pasquero C. von Hardenberg J. |
author_facet |
Mehling O. Bellomo K. Angeloni M. Pasquero C. von Hardenberg J. |
author_sort |
Mehling O. |
title |
High-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the AMOC in a climate model of intermediate complexity |
title_short |
High-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the AMOC in a climate model of intermediate complexity |
title_full |
High-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the AMOC in a climate model of intermediate complexity |
title_fullStr |
High-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the AMOC in a climate model of intermediate complexity |
title_full_unstemmed |
High-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the AMOC in a climate model of intermediate complexity |
title_sort |
high-latitude precipitation as a driver of multicentennial variability of the amoc in a climate model of intermediate complexity |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10281/436180 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06640-3 |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Ocean North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean North Atlantic |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000905451400001 volume:61 issue:3-4 firstpage:1519 lastpage:1534 numberofpages:16 journal:CLIMATE DYNAMICS https://hdl.handle.net/10281/436180 doi:10.1007/s00382-022-06640-3 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-85145104881 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06640-3 |
container_title |
Climate Dynamics |
container_volume |
61 |
container_issue |
3-4 |
container_start_page |
1519 |
op_container_end_page |
1534 |
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1796304117122990080 |