Moat, Bengamin I. and Josey, Simon and Sinha, Bablu and Blaker, Adam and Smeed, David A. and McCarthy, Gerard and Johns, William and Hirschi, Joel J.-M. and Frajka‐Williams, Eleanor and Rayner, Darren and Duchez, Aurelie and Coward, Andrew (2016) Major Variations in Subtropical North Atlantic Heat Transport at Short Timescales: Causes and Consequences. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 121 (5). pp. 3237-3249. ISSN 2169-9291

Preview

Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

Variability in the North Atlantic ocean heat transport at 26.5°N on short (5 day) timescales is identified and contrasted with different behaviour at monthly intervals using a combination of RAPID/MOCHA/WBTS measurements and the NEMO‐LIM2 1/12° ocean circulation/sea ice model. Wind forcing plays the leading role in establishing the heat transport variability through the Ekman transport response of the ocean and the associated driving atmospheric conditions vary significantly with timescale. We find that at 5 day timescales the largest changes in the heat transport across 26.5°N coincide with north‐westerly airflows originating over the American land mass that drive strong southward anomalies in the Ekman flow. During these events the northward heat transport reduces by 0.5–1.4 PW. In contrast, the Ekman transport response at longer monthly timescales is smaller in magnitude (up to 0.5 PW) and consistent with expected variations in the leading mode of North Atlantic atmospheric variability, the North Atlantic Oscillation. The north‐westerly airflow mechanism can have a prolonged influence beyond the central 5 day timescale and on occasion can reduce the accumulated winter ocean heat transport into the North Atlantic by ∼40%.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Atlantic Ocean heat transport; Atlantic subtropical gyre; model‐data comparison; RAPID mooring array; Ekman Transport;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
Item ID:	12183
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JC011660
Depositing User:	Gerard McCarthy
Date Deposited:	20 Jan 2020 11:48
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Publisher:	Wiley Online Library
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

Repository Staff Only(login required)

Item control page

Downloads

Origin of downloads