Mechanisms controlling seasonal mixed layer temperature and salinity in the Southwestern Tropical Indian Ocean

We use a heat- and salt-conserving ocean state estimation product to study the seasonal cycles of the mixed layer (ML) temperature (MLT) and salinity (MLS) balances over the southwestern tropical Indian Ocean (SWTIO) thermocline ridge (STR; 50°–75°E, 12°–5°S). For seasonal MLT, surface heat flux and ocean processes are both important. They tend to re-enforce each other during peak cooling (May–June) and warming (November) periods, but not during transition periods. The dominant ocean process is wind-driven vertical mixing. It is modulated by the variable strength of the monsoon winds (which affect the vertical diffusivity), and to a lesser extent by variability of thermocline depth (which influences the vertical stratification across the ML base). For example, thermocline shoaling in April–July alters the vertical stratification near the ML base; thus, when the monsoon winds heighten (June–September) and the vertical diffusivity increases (deepening the ML base), relatively cool subsurface water is near the ML base and easily incorporated into the ML by vertical mixing. However, vertical advection as a direct response to thermocline shoaling has little affect on MLT. This explains why MLT and thermocline depth are not positively correlated here on the seasonal timescale (as they are on the interannual timescale). Meridional advection associated with Ekman transport driven by the monsoon winds plays a secondary role. Seasonal MLS, however, is dominated by meridional advection. Vertical process effects on MLS are small, due to a weak salinity gradient near the ML base throughout the year.     

Blunt ocean dynamical thermostat in response of tropical eastern Pacific SST to global warming

Using an intermediate ocean–atmosphere coupled model (ICM) for the tropical Pacific, we investigated the role of the ocean dynamical thermostat (ODT) in regulating the tropical eastern Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) under global warming conditions. The external, uniformly distributed surface heating results in the cooling of the tropical eastern Pacific “cold tongue,” and the amplitude of the cooling increases as more heat is added but not simply linearly. Furthermore, an upper bound for the influence of the equatorially symmetric surface heating on the cold tongue cooling exists. The additional heating beyond the upper bound does not cool the cold tongue in a systematic manner. The heat budget analysis suggests that the zonal advection is the primary factor that contributes to such nonlinear SST response. The radiative heating due to the greenhouse effect (hereafter, RHG) that is obtained from the multi-model ensemble of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project Phase III (CMIP3) was externally given to ICM. The RHG obtained from the twentieth century simulation intensified the cold tongue cooling and the subtropical warming, which were further intensified by the RHG from the doubled CO₂ concentration simulation. However, the cold tongue cooling was significantly reduced and the negative SST response region was shrunken toward the equator by the RHG from the quadrupled CO₂ concentration simulation, while the subtropical warming increased further. A systematic RHG forced experiment having the same spatial pattern of RHG from doubled CO₂ concentration simulation with different amplitude of forcing revealed that the ocean dynamical response to global warming tended to enhance the cooling in the tropical eastern Pacific by virtue of meridional advection and upwelling; however, these cooling effects could not fully compensate a given RHG warming as the external forcing becomes larger. Moreover, the feedback by the zonal thermal advection actually exerted the warming over the equatorial region. Therefore, as the global warming is intensified, the cooling over the eastern tropical Pacific by ODT and the negative SST response area are reduced.     

CMIP5模式对拉尼娜生命史模拟能力的评估

利用19个CMIP5模式输出资料,评估模式对于拉尼娜事件特殊生命史发展过程的模拟能力。评估结果显示,仅有少数模式可以很好地再现拉尼娜事件缓慢衰减并再次增强的生命史发展过程,而多数模式中拉尼娜事件持续衰减直至消亡。观测分析结果表明,一个可能导致拉尼娜再次增强的原因是风场强迫作用下的海洋赤道波动过程。模拟能力较好的模式可以建立起"SST—对流—风场"正反馈过程,使得拉尼娜事件再次发展。而模拟能力较弱的模式中正反馈过程无法建立,因此拉尼娜事件最终消亡。另一个可能导致拉尼娜事件再次增强的原因是海洋平均经圈环流的作用。模拟能力较好的模式可以很好地模拟出气候态海洋经圈环流强度,因此海洋平均经向冷平流会帮助赤道地区负海温距平再次增强。而模拟能力较弱的模式中海洋经圈环流强度较弱,因此赤道地区负海温距平持续衰减,最终回归到气候态。     

热带西太平洋海面高度变化与华南3—4月降水异常的关系

随着海洋观测技术的进步,新的海洋数据在大气海洋研究中得到应用。卫星海面高度观测反映了海洋的热力及动力状况,是海洋状况的重要指标。利用多颗卫星观测融合的海面高度异常（Sea Level Anomaly,SLA）资料分析了海面高度异常与华南前汛期3—4月降水异常的关系。结果表明,从气候状况而言,华南前汛期3—4月降水的主要影响系统为西太平洋副热带高压（简称西太副高）,其外围的西南气流为华南提供充足的水汽输送;年际尺度,华南前汛期3—4月降水指数与850 hPa等压面上100~140 °E范围内的副高脊线的南北位置为显著负相关关系,与青藏高原东南侧（105~115 °E,20~25 °N）的西南风为显著正相关关系。利用大气向外长波辐射（OLR）及再分析资料的分析表明,西南太平洋（150 °E~170 °W,10~5 °S）的海面高度异常将引起菲律宾以东广大洋面上OLR异常及相应的潜热释放异常,当这一海域的海面高度偏高时,西太副高位置较常年偏北,青藏高原东南侧西南风将偏弱,不利于向华南地区的水汽输送及辐合,华南降水偏少。      

Intraseasonal Oscillation in Global Ocean Temperature Inferred from Argo

The intraseasonal oscillation(ISO;14-97-day periods) of temperature in the upper 2000 m of the global ocean was studied based on Argo observations from 2003-2008.It is shown that near the surface the ISO existed mainly in a band east of 60 E,between 10 S and 10 N,and the region around the Antarctic Circumpolar Current(ACC).At other levels analyzed,the ISOs also existed in the regions of the Kuroshio,the Gulf Stream,the Indonesian throughflow,the Somalia current,and the subtropical countercurrent(STCC) of the North Pacific.The intraseasonal signals can be seen even at depths of about 2000 m in some regions of the global ocean.The largest amplitude of ISO appeared at the thermocline of the equatorial Pacific,Atlantic and Indian Ocean,with maximum standard deviation(STD) exceeding 1.2 C.The ACC,the Kuroshio,and the Gulf Stream regions all exhibited large STD for all levels analyzed.Especially at 1000 m,the largest STD appeared in the south and southeast of South Africa-a part of the ACC,with a maximum value that reached 0.5 C.The ratios of the intraseasonal temperature variance to the total variance at 1000 m and at the equator indicated that,in a considerable part of the global deep ocean,the ISO was dominant in the variations of temperature,since such a ratio exceeded even 50% there.A case study also confirmed the existence of the ISO in the deep ocean.These results provide useful information for the design of field observations in the global ocean.Analysis and discussion are also given for the mechanism of the ISO.     

用氚的模拟比较被动示踪物平流输送方案

使用一个太平洋海盆尺度环流模式模拟氚的分布,并分别采用二阶中央差(CD)、通量修正输送法(FCT)、分段抛物线法(PPM)、多维正定平流输送法(MPDATA)及二阶矩法(SOM)计算流场对氚的平流输送,通过结果比较考察算法间的差异.模拟试验设定为完整物理过程情形( CASEl)及仅含平流、对流情形(CASE2).CAS...     

An OGCM Simulation of Seasonal and Interannual Variabilities in the Surface—Layer Pacific of the Equatorial Band

The heat budget is analyzed in the surface-layer (0-50 m) Pacific of the equatorial band (10°S-10°N),using the simulation of an ocean general circulation model from 1945 to 1993. The analysis indicates that downward net surface heat flux from the atmosphere and ocean advective heat fluxes play distinct roles in seasonal and interannual variabilities of surface-layer ocean temperature. The surface heat flux dominantly determines the ocean temperature in the seasonal time-scale. But, it has a negative feedback to the ocean temperature in the interannual time-scale. The interannual variability of ocean temperature is largely associated with the cold advection from off-equatorial divergent flow in the central Pacific and from upwelling in the cold tongue. Both the surface heat flux and ocean advective heat fluxes are important to the ocean temperature during an El Nino event. The ocean advective heat fluxes are further associated with local westward trade wind in the central Pacific. These results are largely consistent with some regional observational analyses.     

The relation of meridional pressure gradients to North Atlantic deep water volume transport in an ocean general circulation model

We use a coarse resolution ocean general circulation model to study the relation between meridional pressure and density gradients in the Southern Ocean and North Atlantic and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. In several experiments, we artificially modify the meridional density gradients by applying different magnitudes of the Gent–McWilliams isopycnal eddy diffusion coefficients in the Southern Ocean and in the North Atlantic and investigate the response of the simulated Atlantic meridional overturning to such changes. The simulations are carried out close to the limit of no diapycnal mixing, with a very small explicit vertical diffusivity and a tracer advection scheme with very low implicit diffusivities. Our results reveal that changes in eddy diffusivities in the North Atlantic affect the maximum of the Atlantic meridional overturning, but not the outflow of North Atlantic Deep Water into the Southern Ocean. In contrast, changes in eddy diffusivities in the Southern Ocean affect both the South Atlantic outflow of North Atlantic Deep Water and the maximum of the Atlantic meridional overturning. Results from these experiments are used to investigate the relation between meridional pressure gradients and the components of the Atlantic meridional overturning. Pressure gradients and overturning are found to be linearly related. We show that, in our simulations, zonally averaged deep pressure gradients are very weak between 20°S and about 30°N and that between 30°N and 60°N the zonally averaged pressure grows approximately linearly with latitude. This pressure difference balances a westward geostrophic flow at 30–40°N that feeds the southbound deep Atlantic western boundary current. We extend our analysis to a large variety of experiments in which surface freshwater forcing, vertical mixing and winds are modified. In all experiments, the pycnocline depth, assumed to be the relevant vertical scale for the northward volume transport in the Atlantic, is found to be approximately constant, at least within the coarse vertical resolution of the model. The model behaviour hence cannot directly be related to conceptual models in which changes in the pycnocline depth determine the strength of Atlantic meridional flow, and seems conceptually closer to Stommel’s box model. In all our simulations, the Atlantic overturning seems to be mainly driven by Southern Ocean westerlies. However, the actual strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning is not determined solely by the Southern Ocean wind stress but as well by the density/pressure gradients created between the deep water formation regions in the North Atlantic and the inflow/outflow region in the South Atlantic.     

冬、夏季热带及副热带穿透性对流气候特征分析

文中利用热带测雨卫星 (TRMM) 搭载的测雨雷达 (PR) 1998~2007年的探测结果, 就热带及副热带地区穿透性对流的频次、条件降水强度及垂直廓线等特征进行了分析。研究结果表明: 深对流和穿透性对流都主要发生在热带辐合带 ( ITCZ)、南太平洋辐合带 (SPCZ)、亚洲季风区、20°N以南的非洲以及美洲等地区, 它们的空间分布具有明显的地域性和季节变化特征, 而且陆地深对流更容易发展成为穿透性对流, 但绝大部分地区的穿透性对流频次不超过0.2%。对穿透性对流条件降水强度的分析表明, 热带及副热带大部分地区的穿透性对流条件降水强度在10 mm/h以上, 且洋面的条件降水强度要比陆地大, 但由于其频次较小导致其对总降水的贡献并不大。尽管深对流和穿透性对流降水廓线的外形比较相似, 但相同的高度, 深对流的降水强度要比穿透性对流偏小, 而且这种差异随海陆和纬度的不同而有所区别。此外, 热带地区 (15°S~15°N) 冬、夏季深对流和穿透性对流降水廓线都只存在较小差异, 并没有显示出明显的季节变化。     

Steady-state frictional geostrophic circulation in a one-layer ocean model with thermodynamics

The governing equations are developed for a steady-state frictional geostrophic inhomogeneous 1.5-layer ocean model, with horizontal velocity field that is linearly sheared in the vertical coordinate. We show that in the adiabatic, thermally non-diffusive limit there are an infinite number of solutions for the temperature and depth fields of the subtropical gyre even with the constraint of identical mass within each temperature range. In the non-adiabatic case, a unique subtropical gyre solution exists that can exhibit a temperature front, containing an unbounded meridional gradient, in the northwest corner of the solution domain. The role of mixing of enthalpy in the western boundary layer (WBL) region was investigated by comparing the two extreme cases of no mixing and complete mixing of enthalpy in this region. Also investigated was the dependence of the meridional heat transport on the air–sea heat exchange coefficient, κ. The temperature field was found to be strongly influenced by mixing. However, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the heat transport is similar in the model with and without mixing. The heat transport attains a single local maximum at κ=κ_c, that lies within values that are oceanographically relevant.     

Physical processes that drive the seasonal evolution of the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic Warm Pool

The thermodynamics of the seasonal evolution of the Southwestern Tropical Atlantic Warm Pool (hereafter SWTAWP), which is delimited by the 28 °C isotherm, is investigated using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). Results indicate that the net heat flux is responsible for the appearance and extinction of the SWTAWP. From March to May, the SWTAWP attains its maximum development and sometimes merges with equatorial warm waters towards the African continent, whose development follows the same period. Along the equator, the combination of oceanic terms (i.e., advection and diffusion) is important to promote the separation – when it occurs – of equatorial warm waters from southwestern tropical waters, which develops off the Brazilian coast. An analysis of the relative contribution of the temperature tendency terms of the mixed layer (ML) heat budget over the appearance, development and extinction of the SWTAWP is also done. The most important term for warming and cooling inside of the ML is the net heat flux at the sea surface. The ML is heated by the atmosphere between October and April, whereas the upper ocean cools down between May and September. The highest heat content values occur during the lower-temperature period (August to October), which is linked to the deepening of the ML during this time period. The horizontal advection along the equator is important, particularly at the eastern domain, which is influenced by the cold tongue. In this area, the vertical diffusive term is also significant; however, it presents values near zero outside the equator. These results contribute to a better understanding of the behavior of the heat budget within the tropical Atlantic, as previous studies over this region focused along the equator only.     

Ocean mixed layer processes in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation in coupled general circulation models

It is investigated how the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is simulated differently among various coupled general circulation models (CGCMs), and how it is related to the heat budget of the simulated ocean mixed layer, which includes the surface heat flux and ocean heat transport. For this purpose the dataset of the climate of the 20th Century experiment (20C3M) from nine CGCMs reported to IPCC’s AR4 are used, while the MRI and MIROC models are examined in detail. Detailed analyses of these two CGCMs reveal that the PDO is mainly affected by ocean heat transport rather than surface heat flux, in particular in the MRI model which has a larger contribution of ocean heat transport to the heat budget. It is found that the ocean heat transport due to Ekman advection versus geostrophic advection contributes differently to the PDO in the western and central North Pacific. Specifically, the strength of PDO tends to be larger for CGCMs with a larger ocean heat transport in the region.     

Impact of freshwater discharge from the Greenland ice sheet on North Atlantic climate variability

Using a coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation model, we investigated the impact of Greenland ice sheet melting on North Atlantic climate variability. The positive-degree day (PDD) method was incorporated into the model to control continental ice melting (PDD run). Models with and without the PDD method produce a realistic pattern of North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) variability that fluctuates from decadal to multidecadal periods. However, the interdecadal variability in PDD run is significantly dominated in the longer time scale compared to that in the run without PDD method. The main oscillatory feature in these experiments likely resembles the density-driven oscillatory mode. A reduction in the ocean density over the subpolar Atlantic results in suppression of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), leading to a cold SST due to a weakening of northward heat transport. The decreased surface evaporation associated with the cold SST further reduces the ocean density and thus, simultaneously acts as a positive feedback mechanism. The southward meridional current associated with the suppressed AMOC causes a positive tendency in the ocean density through density advection, which accounts for the phase transition of this oscillatory mode. The Greenland ice melting process reduces the mean meridional current and meridional density gradient because of additional fresh water flux, which suppress the delayed negative feedback due to meridional density advection. As a result, the oscillation period becomes longer and the transition is more delayed.     

西北太平洋冷海温对东亚初夏大气环流影响的数值研究

利用改进的NCAR CCM3气候模式, 研究了1992年西北太平洋持续冷海温对东亚初夏季节大气环流的影响。西北太平洋冷海温不利于初夏东亚南支西风急流季节性北移, 引起亚洲东部沿海低槽明显加深, 东亚大槽平均高度场降低了4.66 dagpm, 从而也不利于西太平洋副热带高压的西伸加强。西北太平洋冷海温还不利于我国大陆初夏温度场回升, 特别是引起我国东北地区近地面温度下降2~5 ℃, 是影响东北冷夏现象的重要原因之一。模拟结果表明, 1992年初夏江淮入梅期较常年偏晚, 降水异常偏少, 与紧邻东亚大陆的西北太平洋持续冷海温有关。     

The hiatus and accelerated warming decades in CMIP5 simulations

Observed hiatus or accelerated warming phenomena are compared with numerical simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 （CMIP5） archives,and the associated physical mechanisms are explored based on the CMIP5 models.Decadal trends in total ocean heat content （OHC） are strongly constrained by net top-of-atmosphere （TOA） radiation.During hiatus decades,most CMIP5 models exhibit a significant decrease in the SST and upper OHC and a significant increase of heat penetrating into the subsurface or deep ocean,opposite to the accelerated warming decades.The shallow meridional overturning of the Pacific subtropical cell experiences a significant strengthening （slowdown） for the hiatus （accelerated warming） decades associated with the strengthened （weakened） trade winds over the tropical Pacific.Both surface heating and ocean dynamics contribute to the decadal changes in SST over the Indian Ocean,and the Indonesian Throughflow has a close relationship with the changes of subsurface temperature in the Indian Ocean.The Atlantic Meridional Overturing Circulation （Antarctic Bottom Water） tends to weaken （strengthen） during hiatus decades,opposite to the accelerated warming decades.In short,the results highlight the important roles of air-sea interactions and ocean circulations for modulation of surface and subsurface temperature.     

Effects of tropical instability wave (TIW)-induced surface wind feedback in the tropical Pacific Ocean

Tropical instability waves (TIWs) arise from oceanic instability in the eastern tropical Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, having a clear atmospheric signature that results in coupled atmosphere–ocean interactions at TIW scales. In this study, the extent to which TIW-induced surface wind feedback influences the ocean is examined using an ocean general circulation model (OGCM). The TIW-induced wind stress (τ_TIW) part is diagnostically determined using an empirical τ_TIW model from sea surface temperature (SST) fields simulated in the OGCM. The interactively represented TIW wind tends to reduce TIW activity in the ocean and influence the mean state, with largest impacts during TIW active periods in fall and winter. In December, the interactive τ_TIW forcing induces a surface cooling (an order of ?0.1 to ?0.3 °C), an increased heat flux into the ocean, a shallower mixed layer and a weakening of the South Equatorial Current in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Additionally, the TIW wind effect yields a pronounced latitudinal asymmetry of sea level field across the equator, and a change to upper thermal structure, characterized by a surface cooling and a warming below in the thermocline, leading to a decreased temperature gradient between the mixed layer and the thermocline. Processes responsible for the τ_TIW–induced cooling effects are analyzed. Vertical mixing and meridional advection are the two terms in the SST budget that are dominantly affected by the TIW wind feedback: the cooling effect from the vertical mixing on SST is enhanced, with the maximum induced cooling in winter; the warming effect from the meridional advection is reduced in July–October, but enhanced in November–December. Additional experiments are performed to separate the relative roles the affected surface momentum and heat fluxes play in the cooling effect on SST. This ocean-only modeling work indicates that the effect of TIW-induced wind feedback is small but not negligible, and may need to be adequately taken into account in large-scale climate modeling.     

影响春季热带太平洋地区海温变化的动力热力作用分析

厄尔尼诺—南方涛动（ENSO）春季预报障碍是ENSO预测的一个难点问题,弄清影响春季热带太平洋地区海表温度（SST）变化的动力和热力作用对于理解ENSO关键区SST的异常变化及ENSO春季预报障碍成因非常重要。本文利用BCC-CSM2-MR数值模式,模拟产生一套1986～2017年间相互协调的逐月海表风应力、感热、潜热、长波和短波净辐射能量、海洋流场等观测代用数据。利用这些数据对影响海温变化的动力和热力作用及其相对重要性进行了诊断分析,结果表明:（1）与其他季节相比,春季Ni?o3.4区海洋表层温度（后文中用T_S表示）呈现出独特的先增暖后趋冷的不对称季节性转换特征,这一变化主要是由于影响T_S的大气风应力、海流以及能量净通量在春季均表现出明显的季节性转换过程。进一步的分析表明,热力作用对局地海温的季节性变化影响最为重要,水平平流输送以反向作用为主,其中经向平流输送起到了反向作用,不利于该区域T_S的季节性转变,纬向平流输送仅在春季转为弱的正贡献,浅层垂直平流输送对春季T_S变化的影响很小。（2）动力热力作用与T_S异常的变化倾向相关关系也表明,春季Ni?o3.4区热力作用与T_S异常变化呈现显著的正相关,纬向海流异常的输送项也表现为正相关,而经向海流输送项展现出由负相关向正相关转化的特征。（3）对Ni?o3.4区T_S变化的方差贡献分析结果表明,春季热力作用对T_S的异常变化的贡献达50%以上,相关系数超0.7,其次是纬向、经向平流项贡献,各占10%～20%左右,但两者作用相反,其他项贡献较小。     

Impact of westerly wind bursts on the warm pool of the TOGA-COARE domain in an OGCM

 A primitive equation model is used to investigate the warm pool equilibrium of the tropical Pacific ocean. Attention is focused on the upper ocean. The oceanic response is described using an isothermal approach applied to warm waters contained in the TOGA-COARE domain. The heat balance shows that all the terms, atmospheric surface fluxes, advection and diffusion, operate in the heat bugdet with different time scales. Over long periods, diffusive heat fluxes transfer heat received from the atmosphere out of the warm pool trough the top of the main thermocline. Over short periods, the impact of westerly wind bursts modifies this balance: atmospheric heating is reversed, diffusion is enhanced and advective heat transports out of the warm pool operate through zonal and vertical contributions. We were able to relate the two latter processes to zonal jets and Ekman pumping, respectively. Conversely, the meridional contribution always represents a source of heat, mainly due to the tropical wind convergence. The modelling results clearly show that except during strong wind events, entrainment cooling is not an important component of the budget. The inability to remove heat is due to the salt stratification which needs to be first reduced or even destroyed by westerly wind bursts to activate heat entrainment into deeper layers. Finally, we suggest that the near zero estimate for the surface heat flux entering the warm pool may be extended to longer periods including seaosnal to interannual time scale. Received: 16 December 1996 / Accepted: 8 July 1997     

Projection of subtropical gyre circulation and associated sea level changes in the Pacific based on CMIP3 climate models

For all of the IPCC Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRESs), sea level is projected to rise globally. However, sea level changes are not expected to be geographically uniform, with many regions departing significantly from the global average. Some of regional distributions of sea level changes can be explained by projected changes of ocean density and dynamics. In this study, with 11 available Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 climate models under the SRES A1B, we identify an asymmetric feature (not recognised in previous studies) of projected subtropical gyre circulation changes and associated sea level changes between the North and South Pacific, through analysing projected changes of ocean dynamic height (with reference to 2,000 db), depth integrated steric height, Sverdrup stream function, surface wind stress and its curl. Poleward expansion of the subtropical gyres is projected in the upper ocean for both North and South Pacific. Contrastingly, the subtropical gyre circulation is projected to spin down by about 20 % in the subsurface North Pacific from the main thermocline around 400 m to at least 2,000 m, while the South Pacific subtropical gyre is projected to strengthen by about 25 % and expand poleward in the subsurface to at least 2,000 m. This asymmetrical distribution of the projected subtropical gyre circulation changes is directly related to differences in projected changes of temperature and salinity between the North and South Pacific, forced by surface heat and freshwater fluxes, and surface wind stress changes.     

Seawater density variations in the North Atlantic and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation

Seawater property changes in the North Atlantic Ocean affect the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), which transports warm water northward from the upper ocean and contributes to the temperate climate of Europe, as well as influences climate globally. Previous observational studies have focused on salinity and freshwater variability in the sinking region of the North Atlantic, since it is believed that a freshening North Atlantic basin can slow down or halt the flow of the AMOC. Here we use available data to show the importance of how density patterns over the upper ocean of the North Atlantic affect the strength of the AMOC. For the long-term trend, the upper ocean of the subpolar North Atlantic is becoming cooler and fresher, whereas the subtropical North Atlantic is becoming warmer and saltier. On a multidecadal timescale, the upper ocean of the North Atlantic has generally been warmer and saltier since 1995. The heat and salt content in the subpolar North Atlantic lags that in the subtropical North Atlantic by about 8–9 years, suggesting a lower latitude origin for the temperature and salinity anomalies. Because of the opposite effects of temperature and salinity on density for both long-term trend and multidecadal timescales, these variations do not result in a density reduction in the subpolar North Atlantic for slowing down the AMOC. Indeed, the variations in the meridional density gradient between the subpolar and subtropical North Atlantic Ocean suggest that the AMOC has become stronger over the past five decades. These observed results are supported by and consistent with some oceanic reanalysis products.