热带风场季内振荡强度与海表温度异常关系研究

利用NCEP/NCAR逐日风场及英国气象局逐月海表温度资料,研究了对流层高低层风场季内振荡强度季节变化特征,探讨了其年际及年代际异常特征与海表温度异常的关系。热带印度洋、热带西太平洋是高低层风场季内振荡终年均活跃的区域。对流层高低层风场季内振荡强度异常与海表温度异常均不存在确定的局地关系。风场季内振荡能量异常与海表温度异常在年代际尺度上具有良好对应关系,20世纪70年代中后期以来,赤道东太平洋海温异常升高,Walker环流减弱,导致亚洲区域季风季内振荡强度减弱,赤道太平洋区域200hPa（850hPa）风场季内振荡在赤道东太平洋增强（减弱）,在印度洋东南部—印尼—中西太平洋的暖池区域减弱（增强）,促进了ElNino事件的增强。对流层高低层风场季内振荡强度年际异常与ElNino事件关系密切,这一特征在低层（850hPa）风场表现更显著。在事件发展初期,热带中西太平洋区域850hPa风场季内振荡异常增强并东移,事件发生之后这些区域能量减弱。大气季内振荡可能是ElNino事件的激发因素。     

耦合模式FGOALS-g2中大西洋经向翻转流对3个典型浓度路径的响应

利用2个关于大西洋经向翻转流(Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation,AMOC)的指数:AMOC指数(15oN~65oN、深度为500 m以下的AMOC的最大值)和AMOC扩展指数(15oN~65oN、深度为2000~2500m的AMOC的最大值),研究了耦合模式FGOALS-g2(Grid-point Version 2 of Flexible Global Ocean-AtmosphereLand System Model)中的AMOC在CMIP5(Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5)的3个典型浓度路径(Representation Concentration Pathways,RCP)(RCP2.6、RCP4.5和RCP8.5分别对应于2100年时490、650和1370 ppm的CO2浓度水平)下的响应问题,发现:在RCP2.6和RCP4.5浓度路径下,2006~2040年时间段内AMOC指数和AMOC扩展指数都呈现快速下降的趋势,2041~2100年时间段内AMOC指数逐渐恢复,AMOC扩展指数基本维持不变;在RCP8.5浓度路径下,2006~2100年时间段内AMOC指数和AMOC扩展指数都表现出快速下降的趋势。通过分析FGOALS-g2中北大西洋深水的成因发现:3个典型浓度路径下AMOC的长期变化趋势主要受到GIN(Greenland–Iceland–Norwegian)海域的深水形成率的调控,而AMOC的年代际尺度的变化则主要受到Labrador海域深水形成率的控制。同时揭示了:由于北大西洋2000 m深度附近的层结稳定性在RCP2.6和RCP4.5下(相比于1980~2005年)提高了30%~40%,使得由AMOC指数恢复产生的深水无法继续下沉,从而导致AMOC扩展指数没有出现恢复的现象。     

高纬度淡水强迫增强背景下大西洋经向翻转环流的响应及其机制

利用卑尔根海洋-大气-海冰耦合气候模式 (Bergen Climate Model, 简称BCM), 研究在北冰洋及北欧海淡水强迫增强的背景下, 大西洋经向翻转环流 (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, 简称AMOC) 的响应及其机制, 着重讨论了海表热力性质、 北大西洋深层水 (North Atlantic Deep Water, 简称NADW) 的生成率、 海洋内部等密度层间的垂直混合 (Diapycnal Mixing, 简称DM) 以及大气风场等物理过程随AMOC的响应所发生的时间演变特征.结果显示, 在持续150年增强 (强度为0.4 Sv) 的淡水强迫下 (淡水试验, FW1), AMOC的强度表现为前50年的快速减弱和在接下来100年中的逐渐恢复.同时, 在淡水试验的前50年北大西洋高纬度海表盐度 (Sea Surface Salinity, 简称SSS) 减小, 海水密度降低, 冬季对流混合减弱, 导致NADW生成率快速减弱; 在接下来的100年中, 尽管增强的淡水强迫依然维持, 由于海洋内部自身的调节和海气相互作用, 导致了AMOC的逐渐恢复.恢复机制可以概括为: (1) 随着向南的NADW的减少, 大西洋中低纬度海水垂直层结逐渐减弱, DM随之逐渐增强, 有利于中低纬度海盆内深层水的上升; (2) 南半球西风应力增强与东风应力的减弱及北半球东风的增强使得大西洋向北的埃克曼体积通量净传输恢复; (3) 大西洋向北的盐度传输逐渐恢复及次极地回旋区降水的减弱, 导致SSS和NADW生成率的恢复, 与之对应, AMOC逐渐恢复.研究还发现, 淡水试验中, NADW的恢复主要以厄尔明格海 (Irminger Sea) 为主, 冬季北大西洋海平面气压场 (SLP) 呈现类似正北大西洋涛动 (NAO+) 的模态, 热带降水中心移到赤道以南, 大西洋热带SSS增强.     

高纬度淡水强迫增强背景下大西洋经向翻转环流的响应及其机制

利用卑尔根海洋－大气－海冰耦合气候模式(Bergen Climate Model, 简称BCM), 研究在北冰洋及北欧海淡水强迫增强的背景下, 大西洋经向翻转环流(Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, 简称AMOC)的响应及其机制, 着重讨论了海表热力性质、北大西洋深层水 (North Atlantic Deep Water, 简称NADW) 的生成率、 海洋内部等密度层间的垂直混合 (Diapycnal Mixing, 简称DM) 以及大气风场等物理过程随AMOC的响应所发生的时间演变特征。结果显示, 在持续150年增强 (强度为0.4 Sv) 的淡水强迫下 (淡水试验, FW1), AMOC的强度表现为前50年的快速减弱和在接下来100年中的逐渐恢复。同时, 在淡水试验的前50年北大西洋高纬度海表盐度 (Sea Surface Salinity, 简称SSS) 减小, 海水密度降低, 冬季对流混合减弱, 导致NADW生成率快速减弱; 在接下来的100年中, 尽管增强的淡水强迫依然维持, 由于海洋内部自身的调节和海气相互作用, 导致了AMOC的逐渐恢复。恢复机制可以概括为: (1) 随着向南的NADW的减少, 大西洋中低纬度海水垂直层结逐渐减弱, DM随之逐渐增强, 有利于中低纬度海盆内深层水的上升; (2) 南半球西风应力增强与东风应力的减弱及北半球东风的增强使得大西洋向北的埃克曼体积通量净传输恢复; (3) 大西洋向北的盐度传输逐渐恢复及次极地回旋区降水的减弱, 导致SSS和NADW生成率的恢复, 与之对应, AMOC逐渐恢复。研究还发现, 淡水试验中, NADW的恢复主要以厄尔明格海 (Irminger Sea) 为主, 冬季北大西洋海平面气压场 (SLP) 呈现类似正北大西洋涛动 (NAO+) 的模态, 热带降水中心移到赤道以南, 大西洋热带SSS增强。     

卑尔根气候模式中大西洋热盐环流年代际与年际变率的气候影响

利用一个全球海气耦合模式--卑尔根气候模式的积分结果,揭示了与大西洋热盐环流(THC)年代际和年际振荡相对应的气候异常型.年代际振荡发生在全海盆尺度,伴有亚速尔高压的增强、冰岛低压的加深;年际振荡发生在局地尺度,伴有亚速尔高压的减弱.这两种海平面气压异常型都反映了北大西洋涛动(NAO)活动中心的强度变化,两种变率型对应的拉布拉多海对流活动都加剧.但伴随局地尺度的THC调整,伊尔明格海的对流活动减弱.蒸发异常对拉布拉多海表层盐度异常的影响较为显著.分析表明,局地尺度的THC振荡主要是对大气强迫的被动响应,而海盆尺度THC振荡的实质是反映整个输送带的强度变化,其气候意义要大于THC的局地振荡.     

季节内振荡的数值模拟Ⅰ.模拟的自然变率

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) 发展的耦合气候系统模式FGOALS 1.0_g控制试验 (二氧化碳浓度保持工业革命前的浓度不变, 代表无人类活动影响的自然变率) 模拟结果, 研究了模拟的自然变率下热带季节内振荡 (Intraseasonal Oscillation, 简称ISO) 的基本特征与年际、年代际变化.研究发现, 模拟的自然变率下全球ISO主要活跃区与近六十年的实测结果基本接近; ISO主要活跃区的季节变动特征与实际结果基本一致; 全球ISO强度冬强、夏弱的季节变化也与实际结果一致; 但模拟的ISO强度偏弱与ISO周期不明显.进一步利用控制试验模拟结果研究了模拟的自然变率下热带ISO特征的年际与年代际变化, 得出: 第一, 模拟的自然变率下的热带ISO强度存在明显的年际与年代际变化, 低强度指数阶段, 全球ISO强度减弱, 活跃区范围缩小, 高强度指数阶段则相反; 并存在季节性差异, 冬季不明显, 春秋季明显, 实测结果有类似结论, 但高、低指数似乎与增暖有关.第二, 模拟的自然变率下的热带东传或西传ISO能量比值总体来看基本上维持一种平衡状态, 不存在上升或下降趋势; 与实际状况下的东传相对能量增强、西传相对能量减弱趋势明显不同.     

季节内振荡的数值模拟 I. 模拟的自然变率

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)发展的耦合气候系统模式FGOALS 1.0_g控制试验(二氧化碳浓度保持工业革命前的浓度不变,代表无人类活动影响的自然变率)模拟结果,研究了模拟的自然变率下热带季节内振荡(Intraseasonal Oscillation,简称ISO)的基本特征与年际、年代际变化。研究发现,模拟的自然变率下全球ISO主要活跃区与近六十年的实测结果基本接近;ISO主要活跃区的季节变动特征与实际结果基本一致;全球ISO强度冬强、夏弱的季节变化也与实际结果一致;但模拟的ISO强度偏弱与ISO周期不明显。进一步利用控制试验模拟结果研究了模拟的自然变率下热带ISO特征的年际与年代际变化,得出:第一,模拟的自然变率下的热带ISO强度存在明显的年际与年代际变化,低强度指数阶段,全球ISO强度减弱,活跃区范围缩小,高强度指数阶段则相反;并存在季节性差异,冬季不明显,春秋季明显,实测结果有类似结论,但高、低指数似乎与增暖有关。第二,模拟的自然变率下的热带东传或西传ISO能量比值总体来看基本上维持一种平衡状态,不存在上升或下降趋势;与实际状况下的东传相对能量增强、西传相对能量减弱趋势明显不同。     

CMIP5西北太平洋气候变率的模拟评估

利用观测海温资料和CMIP5模式模拟结果分析西北太平洋(120°E~120°W,20~60°N)海表温度的气候态和年代际变化特征。结果表明,所选22个模式可以较好地模拟出西北太平洋海表温度的气候特征及其年际、年代际变化特征;模式模拟的海表温度总体标准偏差在黑潮延伸体区域最大;绝大多数模式能模拟出海表温度的第一EOF模态;西北太平洋海表温度具有较明显的年代际振荡现象,13/22的模式模拟的海表温度存在明显的年代际振荡,同时海表温度气候态的模拟偏差对其周期振荡模拟的影响较大,尤其在黑潮延伸体区域。     

西伯利亚高压特征指数及其变率分析

使用1948-2005年的NCEP/NCAR再分析月平均资料,根据海平面气压场的演变特征定义了西伯利亚高压面积、中心强度、中心经度和中心纬度4个特征指数,通过分析西伯利亚高压的特征指数,揭示了西伯利亚高压的变化特征.结果表明:1948-2005年,西伯利亚高压具有明显的年际变化和年代际变化.在年代际尺度上,西伯利亚高压表现出随时间变化先减弱、缩小,后又振荡增强、加大的趋势.西伯利亚高压的位置变化趋势是先西撤、后东进,1999年后又西撤.另外,西伯利亚高压是随时间向南推进的.西伯利亚高压各指数异常变率存在不同的变化周期.西伯利亚高压面积和中心强度距平指数存在周期为24 a和14 a左右的年代际振荡和周期分别为8 a左右和4～6 a的年际振荡;中心经度和纬度距平指数都存在周期为准30 a及12～14 a左右的年代际振荡,同时还存在周期为8 a和3～6 a的显著年际变化.     

全球海表温度年代际尺度的空间分布及其对长江中下游梅雨的影响

使用统计诊断的方法,探讨了近百年全球海表温度年代际尺度的空间分布结构与长江中下游梅雨异常变化的可能联系.采用三次样条函数拟合的方法将1885～2000-全球海表温度场和长江中下游梅雨雨量百分比序列的年代际变化分量分离出来,在分析各自年代际变化特征基础上,研究了全球海表温度的年代际尺度分布结构对长江中下游梅雨异常变化的影响.结果表明(1) 全球海表温度年代际尺度变化分量清晰地表征出气候背景的分布状态,其中太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)型态表现突出,特别是1976年以后太平洋的气候背景呈现暖事件增强的趋势.同时,印度洋及大西洋中部海域的海表温度也表现出明显的升温趋势.(2) 长江中下游梅雨年代际尺度变化趋势与全球海表温度的年代际变化趋势基本一致,特别是与PDO典型分布型态的变化趋势有很好的对应,当PDO暖事件趋势处于较强时期时,长江中下游梅雨为偏多的趋势,反之亦然.其中20世纪70胩代中期PDO出现暖位相增强的突变,长江中下游梅雨也在此时期转入增多的趋势.同时,印度洋、大西洋部分地区的海表温度的年代际变化与梅雨的年代际变化之间也有一定的关联.(3) PDO指数与西太平洋副热带高压面积指数的年代际变化趋势一致的统计事实,从一个侧面说明海洋的-代际变化最终通过副热带高压的变动影响梅雨的异常变化的可能性.     

Decadal-timescale changes of the Atlantic overturning circulation and climate in a coupled climate model with a hybrid-coordinate ocean component

A wide range of statistical tools is used to investigate the decadal variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and associated key variables in a climate model (CHIME, Coupled Hadley-Isopycnic Model Experiment), which features a novel ocean component. CHIME is as similar as possible to the 3rd Hadley Centre Coupled Model (HadCM3) with the important exception that its ocean component is based on a hybrid vertical coordinate. Power spectral analysis reveals enhanced AMOC variability for periods in the range 15–30 years. Strong AMOC conditions are associated with: (1) a Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomaly pattern reminiscent of the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) response, but associated with variations in a northern tropical-subtropical gradient; (2) a Surface Air Temperature anomaly pattern closely linked to SST; (3) a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)-like pattern; (4) a northward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The primary mode of AMOC variability is associated with decadal changes in the Labrador Sea and the Greenland Iceland Norwegian (GIN) Seas, in both cases linked to the tropical activity about 15 years earlier. These decadal changes are controlled by the low-frequency NAO that may be associated with a rapid atmospheric teleconnection from the tropics to the extratropics. Poleward advection of salinity anomalies in the mixed layer also leads to AMOC changes that are linked to processes in the Labrador Sea. A secondary mode of AMOC variability is associated with interannual changes in the Labrador and GIN Seas, through the impact of the NAO on local surface density.     

Simulated variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation

To examine the multi-annual to decadal scale variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) we conducted a four-member ensemble with a daily reanalysis forced, medium-resolution global version of the isopycnic coordinate ocean model MICOM, and a 300-years integration with the fully coupled Bergen Climate Model (BCM). The simulations of the AMOC with both model systems yield a long-term mean value of 18 Sv and decadal variability with an amplitude of 1–3 Sv. The power spectrum of the inter-annual to decadal scale variability of the AMOC in BCM generally follows the theoretical red noise spectrum, with indications of increased power near the 20-years period. Comparison with observational proxy indices for the AMOC, e.g. the thickness of the Labrador Sea Water, the strength of the baroclinic gyre circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean, and the surface temperature anomalies along the mean path of the Gulf Stream, shows similar trends and phasing of the variability, indicating that the simulated AMOC variability is robust and real. Mixing indices have been constructed for the Labrador, the Irminger and the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian (GIN) seas. While convective mixing in the Labrador and the GIN seas are in opposite phase, and linked to the NAO as observations suggest, the convective mixing in the Irminger Sea is in phase with or leads the Labrador Sea. Newly formed deep water is seen as a slow, anomalous cold and fresh, plume flowing southward along the western continental slope of the Atlantic Ocean, with a return flow of warm and saline water on the surface. In addition, fast-travelling topographically trapped waves propagate southward along the continental slope towards equator, where they go east and continue along the eastern rim of the Atlantic. For both types of experiments, the Northern Hemisphere sea level pressure and 2 m temperature anomaly patterns computed based on the difference between climate states with strong and weak AMOC yields a NAO-like pattern with intensified Icelandic low and Azores high, and a warming of 0.25–0.5 °C of the central North Atlantic sea-surface temperature (SST). The reanalysis forced simulations indicate a coupling between the Labrador Sea Water production rate and an equatorial Atlantic SST index in accordance with observations. This coupling is not identified in the coupled simulation.     

Interdecadal North-Atlantic meridional overturning circulation variability in EC-EARTH

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) in a 600?years pre-industrial run of the newly developed EC-EARTH model features marked interdecadal variability with a dominant time-scale of 50–60?years. An oscillation of approximately 2 Sverdrup (1?Sv?=?10⁶?m³?s^?1) is identified, which manifests itself as a monopole causing the overturning to simultaneously strengthen (/weaken) and deepen (/shallow) as a whole. Eight years before the AMOC peaks, density in the Labrador-Irminger Sea region reaches a maximum, triggering deep water formation. This density change is caused by a counterclockwise advection of temperature and salinity anomalies at lower latitudes, which we relate to the north-south excursions of the subpolar-subtropical gyre boundary and variations in strength and position of the subpolar gyre and the North Atlantic Current. The AMOC fluctuations are not directly forced by the atmosphere, but occur in a delayed response of the ocean to forcing by the North Atlantic Oscillation, which initiates “intergyre”-gyre fluctuations. Associated with the AMOC is a 60-year sea surface temperature variability in the Atlantic, with a pattern and timescale showing similarities with the real-world Atlantic Multidecadal Variability. This good agreement with observations lends a certain degree of credibility that the mechanism that is described in this article could be seen as representative of the real climate system.     

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.     

Sensitivity of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation to the dynamical framework in an ocean general circulation model

The horizontal coordinate systems commonly used in most global ocean models are the spherical latitude–longitude grid and displaced poles, such as a tripolar grid. The effect of the horizontal coordinate system on Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is evaluated by using an OGCM (ocean general circulation model). Two experiments are conducted with the model—one using a latitude–longitude grid (referred to as Lat_1) and the other using a tripolar grid (referred to as Tri). The results show that Tri simulates a stronger North Atlantic deep water (NADW) than Lat_1, as more saline water masses enter the Greenland–Iceland–Norwegian (GIN) seas in Tri. The stronger NADW can be attributed to two factors. One is the removal of the zonal filter in Tri, which leads to an increasing of the zonal gradient of temperature and salinity, thus strengthening the north geostrophic flow. In turn, it decreases the positive subsurface temperature and salinity biases in the subtropical regions. The other may be associated with topography at the North Pole, because realistic topography is applied in the tripolar grid while the latitude–longitude grid employs an artificial island around the North Pole. In order to evaluate the effect of the filter on AMOC, three enhanced filter experiments are carried out. Compared to Lat_1, an enhanced filter can also augment NADW formation, since more saline water is suppressed in the GIN seas, but accumulated in the Labrador Sea, especially in experiment Lat_2_S, which is the experiment with an enhanced filter on salinity.     

AMOC variations in 1979–2008 simulated by NCEP operational ocean data assimilation system

Variations in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) between 1979 and 2008 are documented using the operational ocean analysis, the Global Ocean Data Assimilation System (GODAS), at the National Centers for Climate Prediction (NCEP). The maximum AMOC at 40°N is about 16?Sv in average with peak-to-peak variability of 3–4?Sv. The AMOC variations are dominated by an upward trend from 1980 to 1995, and a downward trend from 1995 to 2008. The maximum AMOC at 26.5°N is slightly weaker than hydrographic estimates and observations from mooring array. The dominant variability of the AMOC in 20°–65°N (the first EOF, 51% variance) is highly correlated with that in the subsurface temperature (the first EOF, 33% variance), and therefore, with density (the first EOF, 25% variance) in the North Atlantic, and is consistent with the observational estimates based on the World Ocean Database 2005. The dominant variabilities of AMOC and subsurface temperature are also analyzed in the context of possible links with the net surface heat flux, deep convection, western boundary current, and subpolar gyre. Variation in the net surface heat flux is further linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index which is found to lead AMOC variations by about 5?years. Our results indicate that AMOC variations can be documented based on an ocean analysis system such as GODAS.     

A multi-model comparison of Atlantic multidecadal variability

A multi-model analysis of Atlantic multidecadal variability is performed with the following aims: to investigate the similarities to observations; to assess the strength and relative importance of the different elements of the mechanism proposed by Delworth et al. (J Clim 6:1993–2011, 1993) (hereafter D93) among coupled general circulation models (CGCMs); and to relate model differences to mean systematic error. The analysis is performed with long control simulations from ten CGCMs, with lengths ranging between 500 and 3600 years. In most models the variations of sea surface temperature (SST) averaged over North Atlantic show considerable power on multidecadal time scales, but with different periodicity. The SST variations are largest in the mid-latitude region, consistent with the short instrumental record. Despite large differences in model configurations, we find quite some consistency among the models in terms of processes. In eight of the ten models the mid-latitude SST variations are significantly correlated with fluctuations in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), suggesting a link to northward heat transport changes. Consistent with this link, the three models with the weakest AMOC have the largest cold SST bias in the North Atlantic. There is no linear relationship on decadal timescales between AMOC and North Atlantic Oscillation in the models. Analysis of the key elements of the D93 mechanisms revealed the following: Most models present strong evidence that high-latitude winter mixing precede AMOC changes. However, the regions of wintertime convection differ among models. In most models salinity-induced density anomalies in the convective region tend to lead AMOC, while temperature-induced density anomalies lead AMOC only in one model. However, analysis shows that salinity may play an overly important role in most models, because of cold temperature biases in their relevant convective regions. In most models subpolar gyre variations tend to lead AMOC changes, and this relation is strong in more than half of the models.     

On the interannual variability of surface salinity in the Atlantic

The mechanisms controlling the interannual variability of sea surface salinity (SSS) in the Atlantic are investigated using a simulation with the ECHAM4/OPA8 coupled model and, for comparison, the NCEP reanalysis and an observed SSS climatology. Anomalous Ekman advection is found to be as important as the freshwater flux in generating SSS anomalies, in contrast to sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies which are primarily caused by surface heat flux fluctuations. Since the surface heat flux feedback does not damp the SSS anomalies but generally damps existing SST anomalies, SSS anomalies have a larger characteristic time scale. As a result, they are more influenced by the mean currents and the geostrophic variability, which dominate the SSS changes at low frequency over much of the basin. The link between SSS anomalies and the dominant patterns of atmospheric variability in the North Atlantic sector is also discussed. It is shown that the North Atlantic Oscillation generates SSS anomalies much more by Ekman advection than by freshwater exchanges. At least in the coupled model, there is little one-to-one correspondence between the main atmospheric and SSS anomaly patterns, unlike what is found for SST anomalies.     

不同热盐环流平均强度下北大西洋气候响应的差异

基于美国大气研究中心的CCSM3（Community Climate System Model version3）模式,对淡水扰动试验中不同热盐环流（thermohline circulation,THC）平均强度下,北大西洋气候响应的差异进行研究。结果表明：1）在不同平均强度下,北大西洋海洋、大气要素的气候态差异显著。相对于高平均强度,在低平均强度下,北大西洋地区海表温度（sea surface temperature,SST）、海表盐度（sea surface salinity,SSS）、海表密度（sea surface density,SSD）、表面气温（surface air temperature）异常减弱,最大负异常位于GIN（Greenland sea--Iceland sea--Norwegiansea）海域;海平面气压（sealev—elpressure,SLP）异常升高,相应于北大西洋海域降温,表现为异常冷性高压的响应特征;海冰分布区域向南扩大;北大西洋西部热带海域降水减少,导致热带辐合带（intertropical convergence zone,ITCZ）南移。2）在不同THC平均强度下,SST、SSS和SSD年际异常最显著的区域不同;在高平均强度下,最显著区域位于GIN海域,而在低平均强度下则位于拉布拉多海海域。3）在高平均强度下,北大西洋SST主导变率模态的变率极大区域位于GIN海,而在低平均强度下该极大区域不存在;北大西洋SLP的主导变率模态表现为类NAO型,但在高平均强度下,类NAO型表现得更明显。     

Simulation of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in an atmosphere–ocean global coupled model. Part I: a mechanism governing the variability of ocean convection in a preindustrial experiment

A preindustrial climate experiment was conducted with the third version of the CNRM global atmosphere–ocean–sea ice coupled model (CNRM-CM3) for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4). This experiment is used to investigate the main physical processes involved in the variability of the North Atlantic ocean convection and the induced variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC). Three ocean convection sites are simulated, in the Labrador, Irminger and Greenland–Iceland–Norwegian (GIN) Seas in agreement with observations. A mechanism linking the variability of the Arctic sea ice cover and convection in the GIN Seas is highlighted. Contrary to previous suggested mechanisms, in CNRM-CM3 the latter is not modulated by the variability of freshwater export through Fram Strait. Instead, the variability of convection is mainly driven by the variability of the sea ice edge position in the Greenland Sea. In this area, the surface freshwater balance is dominated by the freshwater input due to the melting of sea ice. The ice edge position is modulated either by northwestward geostrophic current anomalies or by an intensification of northerly winds. In the model, stronger than average northerly winds force simultaneous intense convective events in the Irminger and GIN Seas. Convection interacts with the thermohaline circulation on timescales of 5–10 years, which translates into MOC anomalies propagating southward from the convection sites.