Quantifying the AMOC feedbacks during a 2×CO2 stabilization experiment with land-ice melting

The response of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) to an increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration is analyzed using the IPSL-CM4 coupled ocean–atmosphere model. Two simulations are integrated for 70 years with 1%/year increase in CO₂ concentration until 2×CO₂, and are then stabilized for further 430 years. The first simulation takes land-ice melting into account, via a simple parameterization, which results in a strong freshwater input of about 0.13 Sv at high latitudes in a warmer climate. During this scenario, the AMOC shuts down. A second simulation does not include this land-ice melting and herein, the AMOC recovers after 200 years. This behavior shows that this model is close to an AMOC shutdown threshold under global warming conditions, due to continuous input of land-ice melting. The analysis of the origin of density changes in the Northern Hemisphere convection sites allows an identification as to the origin of the changes in the AMOC. The processes that decrease the AMOC are the reduction of surface cooling due to the reduction in the air–sea temperature gradient as the atmosphere warms and the local freshening of convection sites that results from the increase in local freshwater forcing. Two processes also control the recovery of the AMOC: the northward advection of positive salinity anomalies from the tropics and the decrease in sea-ice transport through the Fram Strait toward the convection sites. The quantification of the AMOC related feedbacks shows that the salinity related processes contribute to a strong positive feedback, while feedback related to temperature processes is negative but remains small as there is a compensation between heat transport and surface heat flux in ocean–atmosphere coupled model. We conclude that in our model, AMOC feedbacks amplify land-ice melting perturbation by 2.5.     

Weakening AMOC connects Equatorial Atlantic and Pacific interannual variability

Observations indicate that since the 1970s Equatorial Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) variations in boreal summer tend to modulate El Niño in the following seasons, indicating that the Atlantic Ocean can have importance for predicting the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The cause of the change in the recent decades remains unknown. Here we show that in the Bergen Climate Model (BCM), a freshwater forced weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) results in a strengthening of the relation between the Atlantic and the Pacific similar to that observed since the 1970s. During the weakening AMOC phase, SST and precipitation increase in the central Equatorial Atlantic, while the mean state of the Pacific does not change significantly. In the Equatorial Atlantic the SST variability has also increased, with a peak in variability in boreal summer. In addition, the characteristic timescales of ENSO variability is shifted towards higher frequencies. The BCM version used here is flux-adjusted, and hence Atlantic variability is realistic in contrast to in many other models. These results indicate that in the BCM a weakening AMOC can change the mean background state of the Tropical Atlantic surface conditions, enhancing Equatorial Atlantic variability, and resulting in a stronger relationship between the Tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This in turn alters the variability in the Pacific.     

Impact of transient freshwater releases in the Southern Ocean on the AMOC and climate

The bipolar ocean seesaw is a process that explains the competition between deep waters formed in the North Atlantic (NA) and in the Southern Ocean (SO). In this picture, an increase in the rate of formation of one of these water masses is made at the expense of the other. However, recent studies have questioned the effectiveness of this process. Namely, they show that adding freshwater in the SO can reduce deep water formation in the SO as well as in the NA. In this study, we explore the mechanisms and time scales excited by such a SO freshwater release by performing sensitivity experiments where a freshwater input is added abruptly in the ocean, south of 60°S, with different rates and durations. For this purpose, we evaluate the separate effects of wind, temperature and salinity changes, and we put the emphasis on the time evolution of the system. We find three main processes that respond to these freshwater inputs and affect the NA Deep Water (NADW) production: (i) the deep water adjustment, which enhances the NADW cell, (ii) the salinity anomaly spread from the SO, which weakens the NADW cell, and (iii) the increase in the Southern Hemisphere wind stress, which enhances the NADW cell. We show that process (i) affects the Atlantic in a few years, due to an adjustment of the pycnocline depth through oceanic waves in response to the buoyancy perturbation in the SO. The salinity anomalies responsible for the NADW production decrease [process (ii)] invades the NA in around 30 years, while the wind stress from process (iii) increases in around 20 years after the beginning of the freshwater perturbation. Finally, by testing the response of the ocean to a large range of freshwater release fluxes, we show that for fluxes larger than 0.2 Sv, process (ii) dominates over the others and limits NADW production after a few centuries, while for fluxes lower than 0.2 Sv, process (ii) hardly affects the NADW production. On the opposite, the NADW export is increased by processes (i) and (iii) even for fluxes smaller than 0.1 Sv. The climatic impact of the freshwater release in the SO is mainly a cooling of the Southern Hemisphere, of up to 10°C regionally, which increases with freshwater release fluxes for a large range of values.     

Multimodel analysis on the response of the AMOC under an increase of radiative forcing and its symmetrical reversal

Climate Dynamics - The response of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) to an increase of radiative forcing (ramp-up) and a subsequent reversal of radiative forcing (ramp-down) is...     

潮汐混合对大西洋经圈翻转环流(AMOC)模拟影响的数值模拟研究

海洋中的潮汐混合对大西洋经圈翻转环流AMOC(Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation)模拟的影响是海洋环流模式研究的热点问题之一。本文采用IAP/LASG发展的气候系统海洋模式LICOM(LASG/IAP Climate system Ocean Model)及与海冰耦合模式进行了有无潮汐混合方案的试验,重点探讨了潮汐混合对AMOC强度模拟的影响。结果显示,引入潮汐混合后模拟的AMOC强度极大值比对照试验增加约1倍,更接近RAPID(Rapid Climate Change Programme)观测。而且,潮汐混合试验中模拟的AMOC上层环流深度(3200 m)比对照试验加深1000 m左右,同样更接近RAPID观测。海洋底部的垂直混合增强,使海洋层结变得更加不稳定,加强了北大西洋高纬地区,特别是拉布拉多海等地区的深对流,这是AMOC加强的直接原因。同时,潮汐混合试验中上层海洋环流也加强,增加了中低纬副热带高盐海水向高纬输送,使表层增密,海洋层结更加不稳定,也可以进一步增强AMOC。     

耦合模式FGOALS-s2模拟的大西洋经圈翻转环流（AMOC）的年代际变率

利用中国科学院大气物理研究所大气科学和地球流体力学数值模拟国家重点实验室（LASG/IAP）发展的耦合的气候系统模式FGOALS-s2工业革命前控制试验结果研究了大西洋经向翻转流（Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation,AMOC）的年代际变率及其物理机制。传统AMOC是利用深度坐标下的质量流函数来表征,本文通过对密度坐标下49.5°N的AMOC指数与其余纬度的AMOC指数作相关分析,发现AMOC的变化有从深水形成区向南传播的过程,且密度坐标下的AMOC变率在北大西洋高纬度明显大于低纬度。分析进一步表明,模式模拟的AMOC具有年代际振荡,周期约为70年。这个低频振荡主要是由与AMOC变化相关的温度和盐度的变化与海表风场之间的相互作用引起,具体机制如下:格陵兰-冰岛-挪威海有异常强的海表风场,导致蒸发增强,继而使海表盐度增加,深水形成增多,从而使AMOC增强。AMOC加强后,会使得向北的热量和盐度输送增加,减弱此处的经向温度梯度,风场随之减弱,从而完成位相的反转。     

Mechanisms of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) Variability in a Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere GCM简

The mechanisms involved in the variability of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation （AMOC） are studied using a 2000-yr control simulation of the coupled Fast Ocean-Atmosphere Model （FOAM）.This study identifies a coupled mode between SST and surface heat flux in the North Atlantic at the decadal timescale,as well as a forcing mode of surface heat flux at the interannual timescale.The coupled mode is regulated by AMOC through meridional heat transport.The increase in surface heating in the North Atlantic weakens the AMOC approximately 10 yr later,and the weakened AMOC in turn decreases SST and sea surface salinity.The decreased SST results in an increase in surface heating in the North Atlantic,thus forming a positive feedback loop.Meanwhile,the weakened AMOC weakens northward heat transport and therefore lowers subsurface temperature approximately 19 yr later,which prevents the AMOC from weakening.In the forcing mode,the surface heat flux leads AMOC by approximately 4 yr.     

典型场选取对多要素气候态相似季节划分的影响

多要素气候态相似季节划分法作为一种新的季节划分客观化方法,在近几年被广泛应用于气候变化研究、气候监测和短期气候预测等。该方法的关键之处在于多要素的融合和典型场的选取,其中典型场是指多要素气候态相似法中所选取的能代表冬季和夏季平均气候特征的气候态距平场。文中采用3种不同方案选取典型场：方法一,基于60年平均气候态选取典型场;方法二,基于30年平均气候态选取典型场;方法三,基于逐年气候态状况选取典型场。研究不同典型场的选取对多要素气候态相似季节划分法划分结果的可能影响,进而以1998年和2013年华中地区的季节划分为例,对第3种典型场划分方法的准确性进行论证。结果显示,典型场作为多要素气候态相似季节划分法的划分基准,对季节划分的结果至关重要,基于单年气候状况选取的典型场与基于多年平均气候态选取的典型场之间的差异存在年代际变化,且在气候变化的转折阶段差异尤为显著。基于第3种典型场选取方案的1998年和2013年季节划分结果能准确地反映当年华中地区气候态和大气环流的季节变化情况。     

The appropriation of the climate change problem among road managers: fighting in the trenches of the real world

This paper investigates how transportation sector managers perceive and utilize climate science, and subsequently, how they appropriate the climate change problem. The analysis focuses on which devices they qualify as useful for translating between knowledge, policy and practice concluding with a discussion of what this suggests in the development of efficient climate adaptation strategies. The paper demonstrates that although transportation sector managers accept the findings of climate science knowledge presented to them, their understanding of the climate change problem and the range of qualifying anchoring devices used in the development of climate adaption strategies are differentiated according to where they are located in the institutional context. For transportation sector managers on the regional and district level, the climate problem is largely perceived through the occurrence of extreme weather rather than through climate science. However, this knowledge basis is not considered sufficient to support ‘knowing how to act’ and has resulted in waiting for the authorities to make standards and regulations that would translate climate change knowledge into methods of practice. We argue that the development of standards and regulations might be underestimated in relation to user demands in climate adaptation work that involves reconciling scientific information.     

Relationship between the expansion of drylands and the intensification of Hadley circulation during the late twentieth century

The changes in coverage by arid climate and intensity of the Hadley circulation during the second half of the twentieth century were examined using observations and the multi-model ensemble (MME) mean of Twentieth-Century Coupled Climate Model (20C3M) simulations. It was found that the area of dry climate, which comprises steppe and desert climates following the K?ppen climate classification, expanded to an appreciable extent in observation and, to a lesser degree, in MME simulation. The areal extent of steppe climate (the outer boundary of arid climate) tends to encroach on the surrounding climate groups, which, in turn, feeds desert climate (the inner part of arid climate) and causes it to grow. This result indicates the importance of accurate prediction for climate regimes that border steppe climate. Concomitant with the expansion of drylands, the observed intensity of the Hadley cell is persistently enhanced, particularly during boreal winter, suggesting the validity of a self-induction of deserts through a positive bio-geophysical feedback (also known as Charney’s cycle). In comparison, the simulated Hadley circulation in the MME mean remains invariant in time. The current climate models, therefore, disagree with the observation in the long-term linkage between desertification and Hadley cell. Finally, the implication of such discrepancy is discussed as a possible guidance to improve models.     

Constructing the adaptation economy: Climate resilient development and the economization of vulnerability

Climate resilient development is emerging as a global policy strategy that integrates climate adaptation and mitigation into sustainable development decisions. For the Caribbean small island developing state (SIDS) of Antigua and Barbuda, the national government is pursuing climate resilient development through multilateral climate funds to protect economic growth from climate and weather-related disasters. Critical adaptation literature argues that interpreting climate vulnerability through an economic growth lens prioritizes economic solutions over other development concerns, which can further the uneven distribution of climate vulnerability and risk. Despite revealing the consequences of market-based climate actions, research has yet to fully understand the economization of vulnerability, which describes the political techniques that render and reconfigure vulnerability in calculated ways. By tracing the discursive interactions between multilateral climate financial institutions and the Antigua and Barbuda national government, this paper empirically examines how vulnerability is economized through climate resilient development. Findings identify the construction of ‘adaptation economies’ in watershed areas, which are economies that can capitalize upon climate challenges within areas of highest vulnerability through fee-for-climate services. The results illustrate that economic growth rationalities characterize climate vulnerability problematizations, which incentivize solutions that enforce the economic development of areas with the highest disaster impacts. Based on these findings, this study emphasizes a need to critically evaluate national actor efforts to re-organize development under climate financing rationales, and its vulnerability-inducing effects.     

MM5对中全新世时期中国地区气候的模拟研究

MM5模式结果与地质记录的对比表明,这个模式系统可以较好地模拟中全新世时气候的变化,特别是模式模拟的降水变化与地质记录吻合得较好.区域模式的结果比全球模式结果有所改进.模式结果显示:与现代相比,中全新世时,中国地区的气温升高,夏季升温超过冬季.同时,中国的内蒙古东部地区、东北地区和华北地区降水显著增加;而中国的华东、华中、华南和西南地区降水减少.中国东部30°N以北地区夏季风增强;中国东部的冬季风减弱.从一系列敏感试验结果,可以发现:在中全新世时,中国地区的气温、风场和降水的变化主要受大尺度环流背景场变化的影响,其对降水变化的影响超过50%.其次受地表状况和植被变化的影响,植被的变化主要影响中国东部地区,使得在冬季和夏季中国地区均升温;而且,对华北部分地区降水变化的影响最大超过25%.地球轨道的变化使得中全新世时太阳辐射的季节变化较大,造成中全新世时中国地区在冬季降温,在夏季升温;同时,对东北和华北地区的降水有重要影响,其影响与植被变化的影响相当.中全新世时,大气中CO2的体积混合比为280×10-6,CO2的变化使得中伞新世时气温降低,但量级较小.影响中全新世时中国地区气候变化的因子,按影响程度由大到小的排序为:大尺度环流背景场、植被变化、地球轨道参数变化和CO2浓度变化.     

20世纪中国气候变暖的归因分析

Progress in the attribution of climate warming in China for the 20th century is summarized. Three sets of climate model experiments including both coupled and uncoupled runs have been used in the attribution analyses. Comparison of climate model results with the observations proves that in the 20th century, especially in the recent half century, climate warming in China is closely related to the increasing of the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, while sulfate aerosol should also have contributions. When both external forcing and natural forcing agents are prescribed, coupled climate models have better results in producing the observed variation of temperature in China. The role of oceanic forcing is also emphasized in the attribution analyses. The observed climate warming of China in the 1920s could not be reproduced in any set of climate model simulations.