Bryden, H.L. and King, Brian A. and McCarthy, Gerard and McDonagh, E.L. (2014) Impact of a 30% reduction in Atlantic meridional overturning during 2009–2010. Ocean Science, 10 (4). pp. 683-691. ISSN 1812-0784,

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Abstract

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation comprises warm upper waters flowing northward, becoming colder and denser until they form deep water in the Labrador and Nordic Seas that then returns southward through the North and South Atlantic. The ocean heat transport associated with this circulation is 1.3 PW, accounting for 25% of the maximum combined atmosphere–ocean heat transport necessary to balance the Earth's radiation budget. We have been monitoring the circulation at 25° N since 2004. A 30% slowdown in the circulation for 14 months during 2009–2010 reduced northward ocean heat transport across 25° N by 0.4 PW and resulted in colder upper ocean waters north of 25° N and warmer waters south of 25° N. The spatial pattern of upper ocean temperature anomalies helped push the wintertime circulation 2010–2011 into record-low negative NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) conditions with accompanying severe winter conditions over northwestern Europe. The warmer temperatures south of 25° N contributed to the high intensity hurricane season in summer 2010.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	VAriability; 26.5-Degrees-N; North-Atlantic; Circulation; Anomalies; Ocean; Oceanography; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences; North Atlantic oscillation; Thermohaline circulation; Climate cycles; Ocean temperature;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
Item ID:	12193
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.5194/os-10-683-2014
Depositing User:	Gerard McCarthy
Date Deposited:	22 Jan 2020 15:42
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

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