Multidecadal Preconditioning of the Maud Rise Polynya Region

• Main Authors: van Westen, R.M., Dijkstra, H.A.
• Other Authors: Sub Physical Oceanography, Marine and Atmospheric Research
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Maud Rise; Southern Ocean; Weddell
• Online Access: https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/409572

In this paper, we consider Maud Rise polynya formation in a long (250-year) high-resolution (ocean 0.1∘, atmosphere 0.5∘ horizontal model resolution) of the Community Earth System Model. We find a dominant multidecadal timescale in the occurrence of these Maud Rise polynyas. Analysis of the results leads us to the interpretation that a preferred timescale can be induced by the variability of the Weddell Gyre, previously identified as the Southern Ocean Mode. The large-scale pattern of heat content variability associated with the Southern Ocean Mode modifies the stratification in the Maud Rise region and leads to a preferred timescale in convection through preconditioning of the subsurface density and consequently to polynya formation.