McCarthy, Gerard and Frajka‐Williams, Eleanor and Johns, William E. and Baringer, Molly O. and Meinen, Christopher S. and Bryden, H.L. and Rayner, Darren and Duchez, A. and Roberts, C. and Cunningham, Stuart A. (2012) Observed interannual variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.5°N. Geophysical Research Letters, 39 (19). L19609. ISSN 0094-8276

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Abstract

[1] The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) plays a critical role in the climate system and is responsible for much of the heat transported by the ocean. A mooring array, nominally at 26°N between the Bahamas and the Canary Islands, deployed in Apr 2004 provides continuous measurements of the strength and variability of this circulation. With seven full years of measurements, we now examine the interannual variability of the MOC. While earlier results highlighted substantial seasonal and shorter timescale variability, there had not been significant interannual variability. The mean MOC from 1 Apr 2004 to the 31 March 2009 was 18.5 Sv with the annual means having a standard deviation of only 1.0 Sv. From 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, the annually averaged MOC strength was just 12.8 Sv, representing a 30% decline. This downturn persisted from early 2009 to mid‐2010. We show that the cause of the decline was not only an anomalous wind‐driven event from Dec 2009–Mar 2010 but also a strengthening of the geostrophic flow. In particular, the southward flow in the top 1100 m intensified, while the deep southward return transport—particularly in the deepest layer from 3000–5000 m—weakened. This rebalancing of the transport from the deep overturning to the upper gyre has implications for the heat transported by the Atlantic.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Atlantic meridional overturning circulation; heat transport; thermohaline circulation;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
Item ID:	12197
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL052933
Depositing User:	Gerard McCarthy
Date Deposited:	22 Jan 2020 15:47
Journal or Publication Title:	Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher:	American Geophysical 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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