Temporal Variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at 26.5°N
University of Miami · National Oceanography Centre · +2 more institutions
Abstract
The vigor of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is thought to be vulnerable to global warming, but its short-term temporal variability is unknown so changes inferred from sparse observations on the decadal time scale of recent climate change are uncertain. We combine continuous measurements of the MOC (beginning in 2004) using the purposefully designed transatlantic Rapid Climate Change array of moored instruments deployed along 26.5 degrees N, with time series of Gulf Stream transport and surface-layer Ekman transport to quantify its intra-annual variability. The year-long average overturning is 18.7 +/- 5.6 sverdrups (Sv) (range: 4.0 to 34.9 Sv, where 1 Sv = a flow of ocean water of 10(6)…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 38.28
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 19
Authors
12- SAStuart A. CunninghamCorresponding
University of Miami, National Oceanography Centre, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology
- TKTorsten Kanzow
University of Miami, National Oceanography Centre, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology
- DRD. Rayner
University of Miami, National Oceanography Centre, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology
- MBMolly Baringer
University of Miami, National Oceanography Centre, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology
- WEWilliam E. Johns
University of Miami, National Oceanography Centre, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology
Topics & keywords
- Thermohaline circulation
- Climatology
- Shutdown of thermohaline circulation
- Environmental science
- Zonal and meridional
- Ocean current
- Circulation (fluid dynamics)
- Climate change
- Life below water