A stochastic dynamical systems view of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation

We provide a dynamical systems framework to understand the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and show that this framework is in many ways similar to that of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation. A so-called minimal primitive equation model is used to represent the Atlantic Ocean circulation. Within this...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dijkstra, H.A., Frankcombe, L.M., von der Heydt, A.S.
Other Authors: Marine and Atmospheric Research, Dep Natuurkunde
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: 2008
Subjects:
North Atlantic
Online Access:https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/32411
Description
Summary:We provide a dynamical systems framework to understand the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and show that this framework is in many ways similar to that of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation. A so-called minimal primitive equation model is used to represent the Atlantic Ocean circulation. Within this minimal model, we identify a normal mode of multidecadal variability that can destabilize the background climate state through a Hopf bifurcation. Next, we argue that noise is setting the amplitude of the sea surface temperature variability associated with this normal mode. The results provide support that a stochastic Hopf bifurcation is involved in the multidecadal variability as observed in the North Atlantic.

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