Smeed, David A. and McCarthy, Gerard and Cunningham, Stuart A. and Frajka-Williams, Eleanor and Rayner, Darren and Johns, W. E. and Meinen, Christopher S. and Baringer, Molly O. and Moat, Bengamin I. and Duchez, A. and Bryden, H.L. (2014) Observed decline of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation 2004–2012. Ocean Science, 10 (1). pp. 29-38. ISSN 1812-0784

Preview

Download (756kB) | Preview

Abstract

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) has been observed continuously at 26° N since April 2004. The AMOC and its component parts are monitored by combining a transatlantic array of moored instruments with submarine-cable-based measurements of the Gulf Stream and satellite derived Ekman transport. The time series has recently been extended to October 2012 and the results show a downward trend since 2004. From April 2008 to March 2012, the AMOC was an average of 2.7 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s−1) weaker than in the first four years of observation (95% confidence that the reduction is 0.3 Sv or more). Ekman transport reduced by about 0.2 Sv and the Gulf Stream by 0.5 Sv but most of the change (2.0 Sv) is due to the mid-ocean geostrophic flow. The change of the mid-ocean geostrophic flow represents a strengthening of the southward flow above the thermocline. The increased southward flow of warm waters is balanced by a decrease in the southward flow of lower North Atlantic deep water below 3000 m. The transport of lower North Atlantic deep water slowed by 7% per year (95% confidence that the rate of slowing is greater than 2.5% per year).

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Variability; Thermohaline Circulation; Western Boundary Current; Performance; Oceanography; Sections; Florida Current Transport; tropical North-Atlantic; Currents; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences; Prediciton; Climate;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
Item ID:	12192
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.5194/os-10-29-2014
Depositing User:	Gerard McCarthy
Date Deposited:	22 Jan 2020 15:40
Journal or Publication Title:	Ocean Science
Publisher:	European Geosciences Union
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