The importance of wind and buoyancy forcing for the boundary density variations and the geostrophic component of the AMOC at 26°N

Journal of Physical Oceanography

Volumn 44, Issue 9, 2014, Pages 2387-2408

  Polo, Irene ^a   Robson, Jon ^a   Sutton, Rowan ^a   Balmaseda, Magdalena Alonso ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF READING   (United Kingdom)

^b EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MEDIUM RANGE WEATHER FORECASTS   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE; BUOYANCY; COASTAL ENGINEERING; MECHANICAL WAVES; TIME MEASUREMENT; WIND STRESS;

ANALYSIS OF SIMULATIONS; ATLANTIC MERIDIONAL OVERTURNING CIRCULATIONS; DECADAL TIMESCALE; DENSITY VARIATIONS; DIFFERENT TIME SCALE; INTERANNUAL VARIABILITY; NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATIONS; SURFACE BUOYANCY FLUX;

OCEANOGRAPHY;

ANNUAL VARIATION; BUOYANCY; EKMAN TRANSPORT; OVERTURN; ROSSBY WAVE; UPWELLING; WIND FORCING; WIND STRESS; WIND-DRIVEN CIRCULATION; ZONAL WIND;

ATLANTIC OCEAN; ATLANTIC OCEAN (CENTRAL);

EID: 84907081108     PISSN: 00223670     EISSN: 15200485     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1175/JPO-D-13-0264.1     Document Type: Article

References (70)

1. Adcroft, A., C. Hill, and J. Marshall, 1997: Representation of topography by shaved cells in a height coordinate ocean model. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 2293-2315, doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1997)125<2293:ROTBSC>2.0.CO;2.
2. Baehr, J., J. Hirschi, J. O. Beismann, and J. Marotzke, 2004: Monitoring the meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic: A model-based array design study. J. Mar. Res., 62, 283-312, doi:10.1357/0022240041446191.
3. Balan Sarojini, B., and Coauthors, 2011: High frequency variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Ocean Sci. Discuss., 8, 219-246, doi:10.5194/osd-8-219-2011.
4. Balmaseda, M. A., and K. Mogensen, 2010: Evaluation of ERAInterim forcing fluxes from an ocean perspective. Issue 6 of ERA Rep. Series, 9 pp.
5. Balmaseda, M. A., K. Mogensen, and A. T. Weaver, 2013: Evaluation of the ECMWF Ocean Reanalysis System ORAS4. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 139, 1132-1161, doi:10.1002/qj.2063.
6. Barnier, B., and Coauthors, 2006: Impact of partial steps and momentum advection schemes in a global ocean circulation model at eddy-permitting resolution. Ocean Dyn., 56, 543-567, doi:10.1007/s10236-006-0082-1.
7. Bentsen, M., H. Drange, T. Furevik, and T. Zhou, 2004: Simulated variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Climate Dyn., 22, 701-720, doi:10.1007/s00382-004-0397-x.
8. Biastoch, A., C. W. Boning, J. Getzlaff, J. M. Molines, and G. Madec, 2008: Causes of interannual-decadal variability in the meridional overturning circulation of the midlatitude North Atlantic Ocean. J. Climate, 21, 6599-6615, doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2404.1.
9. Blanke, B., and P. Delecluse, 1993: Variability of the tropical Atlantic Ocean simulated by a general circulation model with two different mixed-layer physics. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 23, 1363-1388, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1993)023<1363:VOTTAO>2.0.CO;2.
10. Bo¨ning, C. W., M. Scheinert, J. Dengg, A. Biastoch, and A. Funk, 2006: Decadal variability of subpolar gyre transport and its reverberation in the North Atlantic overturning. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L21S01, doi:10.1029/2006GL026906.
11. Bretherton, S. B., C. Smith, and J. H. Wallace, 1992: An intercomparison of methods for finding coupled patterns in climate data. J. Climate, 5, 541-560, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1992)005<0541:AIOMFF>2.0.CO;2.
12. Cabanes, C., T. Lee, and L.-L. Fu, 2008: Mechanisms of interannual variations of the meridional overturning circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 38, 467-480, doi:10.1175/2007JPO3726.1.
13. Chidichimo, M. P., T. Kanzow, S. A. Cunningham, W. E. Johns, and J. Marotzke, 2010: The contribution of eastern-boundary density variations to the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.58N. Ocean Sci., 6, 475-490, doi:10.5194/os-6-475-2010.
14. Cunningham, S. A., and R. Marsh, 2010: Observing and modelling changes in the Atlantic MOC. Wiley Interdiscip. Rev.: Climate Change, 1, 180-191, doi:10.1002/wcc.22.
15. Cunningham, S. A., and Coauthors, 2007: Temporal variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.58N. Science, 317, 935-938, doi:10.1126/science.1141304.
16. de Coe¨tlogon, G., C. Frankignoul, M. Bentsen, C. Delon, H. Haak, S. Masina, and A. Pardaens, 2006: Gulf stream variability in five oceanic general circulation models. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 36, 2119-2135, doi:10.1175/JPO2963.1.
17. Dee, D. P., and Coauthors, 2011: The ERA-Interim reanalysis: Configuration and performance of the data assimilation system. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 137, 553-597, doi:10.1002/qj.828.
18. Delworth, T. L., and R. J. Greatbatch, 2000: Multidecadal thermohaline circulation variability driven by atmospheric surface flux forcing. J. Climate, 13, 1481-1495, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(2000)013<1481:MTCVDB>2.0.CO;2.
19. Dong, B., and R. Sutton, 2001: The dominant mechanism of variability in Atlantic Ocean heat transport in a coupled oceanatmosphere GCM. Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 2445-2448, doi:10.1029/2000GL012531.
20. Dong, B., and R. Sutton, 2005: Mechanism of interdecadal thermohaline circulation variability in a coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM. J. Climate, 18, 1117-1135, doi:10.1175/JCLI3328.1.
21. Eden, C., and T. Jung, 2001: North Atlantic interdecadal variability: Oceanic response to the North Atlantic Oscillation (1865-1997). J. Climate, 14, 676-691, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(2001)014<0676:NAIVOR>2.0.CO;2.
22. Eden, C., and J. Willebrand, 2001: Mechanism of interannual to decadal variability of the North Atlantic circulation. J. Climate, 14, 2266-2280, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(2001)014<2266:MOITDV>2.0.CO;2.
23. Frankignoul, C., G. de Coe¨tlogon, T. M. Joyce, and S. Dong, 2001: Gulf Stream variability and ocean-atmosphere interactions. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 31, 3516-3529, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(2002)031<3516:GSVAOA>2.0.CO;2.
24. Gent, P. R., and J. C. McWilliams, 1990: Isopycnal mixing in ocean circulation models. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 20, 150-155, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1990)020<0150:IMIOCM>2.0.CO;2.
25. Getzlaff, J., C. W. Bo¨ning, C. Eden, and A. Biastoch, 2005: Signal propagation in the North Atlantic overturning. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L09602, doi:10.1029/2004GL021002.
26. Gill, A. E., 1982: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics. Academic Press, 662 pp.
27. Gro¨tzner, A., M. Latif, and T. P. Barnett, 1998: A decadal climate cycle in the North Atlantic Ocean as simulated by the ECHO coupled GCM. J. Climate, 11, 831-847, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1998)011<0831:ADCCIT>2.0.CO;2.
28. Haak, H., J. Junglaus, U. Mikolajewicz, and M. Latif, 2003: Formation and propagation of great salinity anomalies. Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 1473, doi:10.1029/2003GL017065.
29. Harris, F. J., 1978: On the use of windows for harmonic analysis with the discrete Fourier transform. Proc. IEEE, 66, 51-83, doi:10.1109/PROC.1978.10837.
30. Hasselmann, K., 1976: Stochastic climate models. Part I: Theory. Tellus, 28, 473-485, doi:10.1111/j.2153-3490.1976.tb00696.x.
31. Hirschi, J., and J. Marotzke, 2007: Reconstructing the meridional overturning circulation from boundary densities and the zonal wind stress. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 37, 743-763, doi:10.1175/JPO3019.1.
32. Hirschi, J., J. Baehr, J. Marotzke, J. Stark, S. Cunningham, and J.-O. Beismann, 2003: A monitoring design for the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 1413, doi:10.1029/2002GL016776.
33. Hirschi, J., P. D. Killworth, and J. R. Blundell, 2007: Subannual, seasonal, and interannual variability of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 37, 1246-1265, doi:10.1175/JPO3049.1.
34. Hodson, D. L. R., and R. T. Sutton, 2012: The impact of resolution on the adjustment and decadal variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in a coupled climate model. Climate Dyn., 39, 3057-3073, doi:10.1007/s00382-012-1309-0.
35. Jayne, S. R., and J. Marotzke, 2001: The dynamics of ocean heat transport variability. Rev. Geophys., 39, 385-411, doi:10.1029/2000RG000084.
36. Johnson, H. L., and D. P. Marshall, 2002: A theory for the surface Atlantic response to thermohaline variability. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 32, 1121-1132, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(2002)032<1121:ATFTSA>2.0.CO;2.
37. Kanzow, T., and Coauthors, 2010: Seasonal variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.58N. J. Climate, 23, 5678-5698, doi:10.1175/2010JCLI3389.1.
38. Kawase, M., 1987: Establishment of deep ocean circulation driven by deep-water production. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 17, 2294-2317, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1987)017<2294:EODOCD>2.0.CO;2.
39. Knight, J. R., R. J. Allan, C. K. Folland, M. Vellinga, and M. E. Mann, 2005: A signature of persistent natural thermohaline circulation cycles in observed climate. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L20708, doi:10.1029/2005GL024233.
40. Ko¨hl, A., 2005: Anomalies of meridional overturning: Mechanisms in the North Atlantic. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 35, 1455-1472, doi:10.1175/JPO2767.1.
41. Lee, T., and J. Marotzke, 1998: Seasonal cycles of meridional overturning and heat transport of the Indian Ocean. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 28, 923-943, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1998)028<0923:SCOMOA>2.0.CO;2.
42. Madec, G., P. Delecluse, M. Imbard, and C. Levy, 1998: OPA 8.1 ocean general circulation model reference manual. IPSL Notes du Pole de Modelisation 11, 91 pp. [Available online at http://www.nemo-ocean.eu/About-NEMO/Reference-manuals.]
43. Marotzke, J., and B. A. Klinger, 2000: The dynamics of equatorially asymmetric thermohaline circulations. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 30, 955-970, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(2000)030<0955:TDOEAT>2.0.CO;2.
44. Marotzke, J., R. Giering, K. Q. Zhang, D. Stammer, C. Hill, and T. Lee, 1999: Construction of the adjoint MITocean general circulation model and application to Atlantic heat transport sensitivity. J. Geophys. Res., 104, 29 529-29 547, doi:10.1029/1999JC900236.
45. Marshall, J., H. Johnson, and J. Goodman, 2001: A study of the interaction of the North Atlantic Oscillation with ocean circulation. J. Climate, 14, 1399-1421, doi:10.1175/1520-0442(2001)014<1399:ASOTIO>2.0.CO;2.
46. Matei, D., J. Baehr, J. H. Jungclaus, H. Haak, W. A. Muller, and J. Marotzke, 2012: Multiyear prediction of monthly mean Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.58N. Science, 335, 76-79, doi:10.1126/science.1210299.
47. McCarthy, G., and Coauthors, 2012: Observed interannual variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.58N. Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L19609, doi:10.1029/2012GL052933.
48. Meehl, G. A., and Coauthors, 2009: Decadal prediction: Can it be skillful? Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 90, 1467-1485, doi:10.1175/2009BAMS2778.1.
49. Metz, W., 1991: Optimal relationship of large-scale flow patterns and the barotropic feedback due to high-frequency eddies. J. Atmos. Sci., 48, 1141-1159, doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1991)048<1141:OROLSF>2.0.CO;2.
50. Mignot, J., and C. Frankignoul, 2005: The variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation in the Bergen Climate Model. J. Climate, 18, 2361-2375, doi:10.1175/JCLI3405.1.
51. Ortega, P., E. Hawkins, and R. Sutton, 2011: Processes governing the predictability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in a coupled GCM. Climate Dyn., 37, 1771-1782, doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1025-1.
52. Parzen, E., 1962: On the estimation of the probability density function and the mode. Ann. Math. Stat., 33, 1065-1076, doi:10.1214/aoms/1177704472.
53. Pedlosky, J., 1979: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. Springer-Verlag, 624 pp.
54. Penduff, T., J. Le Sommer, B. Barnier, A. M. Treguier, J.-M. Molines, and G. Madec, 2007: Influence of numerical schemes on current-topography interactions in 1/48 global ocean simulations. Ocean Sci., 3, 509-524, doi:10.5194/os-3-509-2007.
55. Persechino, A., R. Marsh, B. Sinha, A. P. Megann, A. T. Blaker, and A. L. New, 2012: Decadal-timescale changes of the Atlantic overturning circulation and climate in a coupled climate model with a hybrid-coordinate ocean component. Climate Dyn., 39, 1021-1042, doi:10.1007/s00382-012-1432-y.
56. Pohlmann, H., D. M. Smith, M. A. Balmaseda, N. S. Keenlyside, S. Masina, D. Matei, W. A. Mu¨ller, and P. Rogel, 2013: Predictability of the mid-latitude Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in a multi-model system. Climate Dyn., 41, 775-785, doi:10.1007/s00382-013-1663-6.
57. Roberts, C. D., and Coauthors, 2013: Atmosphere drives recent interannual variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.58N. Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 5164-5170, doi:10.1002/grl.50930.
58. Robson, J., R. Sutton, K. Lohmann, D. Smith, and M. D. Palmer, 2012: Causes of the rapid warming of the North Atlantic Ocean in the mid-1990s. J. Climate, 25, 4116-4134, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00443.1.
59. Robson, J., R. Sutton, and D. Smith, 2013: Predictable climate impacts of the decadal changes in the ocean in the 1990s. J. Climate, 26, 6329-6339, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00827.1.
60. Roullet, G., and G. Madec, 2000: Salt conservation, free surface, and varying levels: A new formulation for ocean general circulation models. J. Geophys. Res., 105, 23 927-23 942, doi:10.1029/2000JC900089.
61. Sime, L. C., D. P. Stevens, K. J. Heywood, and K. I. C. Oliver, 2006: A decomposition of the Atlantic meridional overturning. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 36, 2253-2270, doi:10.1175/JPO2974.1.
62. Stepanov, V. N., and K. Haines, 2013: Mechanisms of AMOC variability simulated by the NEMO model. Ocean Sci. Discuss., 10, 619-648, doi:10.5194/osd-10-619-2013.
63. Sutton, R. T., and D. L. R. Hodson, 2007: Climate response to basin-scale warming and cooling of the North Atlantic Ocean. J. Climate, 20, 891-907, doi:10.1175/JCLI4038.1.
64. Sutton, R. T., and B. Dong, 2012: Atlantic Ocean influence on a shift in European climate in the 1990s. Nat. Geosci., 5, 788-792, doi:10.1038/ngeo1595.
65. Thomson, D. J., 1982: Spectrum estimation and harmonic analysis. Proc. IEEE, 70, 1055-1096, doi:10.1109/PROC.1982.12433.
66. Timmermann, A., M. Latif, R. Voss, and A. Gro¨tzner, 1998: Northern Hemispheric interdecadal variability: A coupled air-sea mode. J. Climate, 11, 1906-1931, doi:10.1175/1520-0442-11.8.1906.
67. Uppala, S. M., and Coauthors, 2005: The ERA-40 Re-Analysis. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 131, 2961-3012, doi:10.1256/qj.04.176.
68. Yeager, S., and G. Danabasoglu, 2014: The origins of latetwentieth-century variations in the large-scale North Atlantic circulation. J. Climate, 27, 3222-3247, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00125.1.
69. Zhang, R., 2008: Coherent surface-subsurface fingerprint of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L20705, doi:10.1029/2008GL035463.
70. Zhang, R., 2010: Latitudinal dependence of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) variations. Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L16703, doi:10.1029/2010GL044474.