Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions
We describe the use of bivariate 3d empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) in characterising low frequency variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) in the Hadley Centre global climate model, HadCM3. We find that the leading two modes are well correlated with an index of the meridion...
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ftunivreading:oai:centaur.reading.ac.uk:794 2024-06-23T07:50:28+00:00 Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions Hawkins, Ed Sutton, Rowan 2007-12 text image https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/ https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/2/hawkins_sutton_2007_3d_EOFs.pdf https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/3/hawkins_sutton_2007_3d_EOFs_SupplementaryFig.gif https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0263-8 en eng Springer https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/2/hawkins_sutton_2007_3d_EOFs.pdf https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/3/hawkins_sutton_2007_3d_EOFs_SupplementaryFig.gif Hawkins, E. <https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/view/creators/90000949.html> orcid:0000-0001-9477-3677 and Sutton, R. <https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/view/creators/90000057.html> orcid:0000-0001-8345-8583 (2007) Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions. Climate Dynamics, 29 (7-8). pp. 745-762. ISSN 0930-7575 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0263-8 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0263-8> 551 Geology hydrology meteorology Article PeerReviewed 2007 ftunivreading https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0263-8 2024-06-11T14:41:45Z We describe the use of bivariate 3d empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) in characterising low frequency variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) in the Hadley Centre global climate model, HadCM3. We find that the leading two modes are well correlated with an index of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) on decadal timescales, with the leading mode alone accounting for 54% of the decadal variance. Episodes of coherent oscillations in the sub-space of the leading EOFs are identified; these episodes are of great interest for the predictability of the THC, and could indicate the existence of different regimes of natural variability. The mechanism identified for the multi-decadal variability is an internal ocean mode, dominated by changes in convection in the Nordic Seas, which lead the changes in the MOC by a few years. Variations in salinity transports from the Arctic and from the North Atlantic are the main feedbacks which control the oscillation. This mode has a weak feedback onto the atmosphere and hence a surface climatic influence. Interestingly, some of these climate impacts lead the changes in the overturning. There are also similarities to observed multi-decadal climate variability. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Nordic Seas North Atlantic CentAUR: Central Archive at the University of Reading Arctic Climate Dynamics 29 7-8 745 762 |
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Open Polar |
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CentAUR: Central Archive at the University of Reading |
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ftunivreading |
language |
English |
topic |
551 Geology hydrology meteorology |
spellingShingle |
551 Geology hydrology meteorology Hawkins, Ed Sutton, Rowan Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions |
topic_facet |
551 Geology hydrology meteorology |
description |
We describe the use of bivariate 3d empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) in characterising low frequency variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) in the Hadley Centre global climate model, HadCM3. We find that the leading two modes are well correlated with an index of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) on decadal timescales, with the leading mode alone accounting for 54% of the decadal variance. Episodes of coherent oscillations in the sub-space of the leading EOFs are identified; these episodes are of great interest for the predictability of the THC, and could indicate the existence of different regimes of natural variability. The mechanism identified for the multi-decadal variability is an internal ocean mode, dominated by changes in convection in the Nordic Seas, which lead the changes in the MOC by a few years. Variations in salinity transports from the Arctic and from the North Atlantic are the main feedbacks which control the oscillation. This mode has a weak feedback onto the atmosphere and hence a surface climatic influence. Interestingly, some of these climate impacts lead the changes in the overturning. There are also similarities to observed multi-decadal climate variability. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hawkins, Ed Sutton, Rowan |
author_facet |
Hawkins, Ed Sutton, Rowan |
author_sort |
Hawkins, Ed |
title |
Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions |
title_short |
Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions |
title_full |
Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions |
title_fullStr |
Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions |
title_sort |
variability of the atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/ https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/2/hawkins_sutton_2007_3d_EOFs.pdf https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/3/hawkins_sutton_2007_3d_EOFs_SupplementaryFig.gif https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0263-8 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Nordic Seas North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Arctic Nordic Seas North Atlantic |
op_relation |
https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/2/hawkins_sutton_2007_3d_EOFs.pdf https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/794/3/hawkins_sutton_2007_3d_EOFs_SupplementaryFig.gif Hawkins, E. <https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/view/creators/90000949.html> orcid:0000-0001-9477-3677 and Sutton, R. <https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/view/creators/90000057.html> orcid:0000-0001-8345-8583 (2007) Variability of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation described by three-dimensional empirical orthogonal functions. Climate Dynamics, 29 (7-8). pp. 745-762. ISSN 0930-7575 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0263-8 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0263-8> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0263-8 |
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Climate Dynamics |
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29 |
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7-8 |
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