Salinity Biases and the Variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in GFDL-CM3

Ocean Science Journal - The variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the Meridional Freshwater Transport (Mov) at 24°N, 11°S, and 30°S, simulated...     

Using Argo data to investigate the Meridional Overturning Circulation in the North Atlantic

Using a variety of oceanographic data, including direct volume transports in the Florida Strait, and Argo float profiles and drift velocities at 24°N and 36°N in the North Atlantic, inverse calculations are presented in which the net meridional transport, down to a depth of approximately 1600 m, is estimated at both latitudes for a 5-year period 2003–2007. The upper ocean is divided into seven layers using neutral density, and mass conservation constraints have been applied to a closed box bounded by these latitudes, including the Florida Strait. Ekman layer transports have been included in the top-most layer, and the inverse calculation has solved for changes from the initial reference velocities, Ekman and Florida Strait transports, given a priori estimates on the accuracy of each of these quantities. Solutions with and without transformations due to Mediterranean Water (MW) formation are made. Our results indicate that (1) time-averaged transport estimates derived from Argo have significant less eddy noise than individual hydrographic sections, (2) Argo drift velocities provide information to the inverse solution for the ocean interior, and (3) comparison of the total integrated interior mass transports in the thermocline waters for the period 2003–2007 with the previous estimates based on trans-ocean hydrographic sections shows that, within the errors of our estimation, the upper limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has not significantly changed since 1957.     

The East Greenland Spill Jet as an important component of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

The recently discovered East Greenland Spill Jet is a bottom-intensified current on the upper continental slope south of Denmark Strait, transporting intermediate density water equatorward. Until now the Spill Jet has only been observed with limited summertime measurements from ships. Here we present the first year-round mooring observations demonstrating that the current is a ubiquitous feature with a volume transport similar to the well-known plume of Denmark Strait overflow water farther downslope. Using reverse particle tracking in a high-resolution numerical model, we investigate the upstream sources feeding the Spill Jet. Three main pathways are identified: particles flowing directly into the Spill Jet from the Denmark Strait sill; particles progressing southward on the East Greenland shelf that subsequently spill over the shelfbreak into the current; and ambient water from the Irminger Sea that gets entrained into the flow. The two Spill Jet pathways emanating from Denmark Strait are newly resolved, and long-term hydrographic data from the strait verifies that dense water is present far onto the Greenland shelf. Additional measurements near the southern tip of Greenland suggest that the Spill Jet ultimately merges with the deep portion of the shelfbreak current, originally thought to be a lateral circulation associated with the sub-polar gyre. Our study thus reveals a previously unrecognized significant component of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation that needs to be considered to understand fully the ocean׳s role in climate.     

北印度洋越赤道经向翻转环流的年际变化

利用50a(1950~1999)的SODA资料对北印度洋(7°S以北)越赤道的经向翻转环流及其年际变化进行了研究。结果表明,就年平均而言,上层向北的入流在越过赤道后最终通过Ekman层向南返回构成环流圈;在赤道附近的混合层,表层存在与Ekman流相反的流动。向北的入流主要通过西边界流实现,深度可达500m,向南的流动在西部较强。此环流有很明显的年际变化,周期约为4a;它的变化与海面风应力的变化是密切相关的。提出了反映此环流年际变化的2个指数。     

The seasonal variation of the North Pacific Meridional Overturning Circulation heat transport

Based on the 50-year Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA) reanalysis data, we investigated the basic characteristics and seasonal changes of the meridional heat transport carried by the North Pacific Meridional Overturning Circulation. And we also examined the dynamical and thermodynamic mechanisms responsible for these heat transport variability at the seasonal time scale. Among four cells, the tropical cell (TC) is strongest with a northward heat transport (NHT) of (1.75±0.30) PW (1 PW=1.0×10^15 W) and a southward heat transport (SHT) of (-1.69±0.55) PW, the subtropical cell (STC) is second with a NHT of (0.71±0.65) PW and SHT of (-0.63±0.53) PW, the deep tropical cell (DTC) is third with a NHT of (0.18±0.03) PW and SHT of (-0.18±0.11) PW, while the subpolar cell (SPC) is weakest with a NHT of (0.09±0.05) PW and SHT of (-0.07±0.09) PW. These four cells all have diff erent seasonal changes in their NHT and SHT. Of all, the TC has stronger change in its SHT than in its NHT, so do both the DTC and SPC, but the seasonal change in the STC SHT is weaker than that in its NHT. Therefore, their dynamical and thermodynamic mechanisms are diff erent each other. The local zonal wind stress and net surface heat flux are mainly responsible for the seasonal changes in the TC and STC NHTs and SPC SHT, while the local thermocline circulations and sea temperature are primarily responsible for the seasonal changes of the TC, STC and DTC SHTs and SPC NHT.     

西中太平洋经向大气环流的年际变化

讨论了西中太平洋经向大气环流的年际变化特征,其中西太平洋区(WP)和中太平洋区(CP)EOF分解的第一模态分别是WP的负异常Hadley环流和CP的正异常Hadley环流,其时间系数与Nio3.4指数极为一致;第二模态的最显著空间特征是两区都在5°N~15°N有异常上升,但其时间系数与Nio3.4指数同期相关很低。西中太平洋有2类海表面温度异常(SSTa),通过其上的深对流潜热加热驱动异常Hadley环流:El Nio型驱动了WP区和CP区赤道区符号相反的第一模态异常环流型;热带辐合带(ITCZ)型驱动了WP区和CP区5°N~15°N区符号一致的第二模态异常环流。     

冬、夏季印度洋越赤道经向翻转环流的年际变化

利用50 a的SODA资料对1月(冬季)和7月(夏季)印度洋越赤道经向翻转环流的年际变化进行研究。通过对2类典型年份的合成分析指出:1月份正异常年对应的经向翻转环流偏强,向北的经向热输送增加;7月份正异常年对应的经向翻转环流则偏弱,向南的经向热输送减少;1月份和7月份的负异常年皆与其正异常年相反;越赤道经向翻转环流有明显的年际变化,平均周期在4 a左右;经向翻转环流的年际变化和海面风场的变化密切相关。提出了反映1月和7月此环流年际变化的几个指数。     

Geostrophic Circulation of Waters in the South Atlantic Ocean and Its Seasonal Variability

Based on an analysis of the monthly average diagrams of dynamic topography, we reveal some specific features of the geostrophic circulation of waters in the South Atlantic Ocean. We present an improved picture of the structure and annual variability of the climatic large-scale circulations. They are compared with similar climatic cells of the large-scale circulation of waters in the north part of the ocean. Quantitative estimates of the characteristics of seasonal oscillations of the field of dynamic heights are obtained.     

Variability of the North Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation in Different Phases of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation from Ocean Objective Analyses and Reanalyses

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Zonally averaged characteristics of the North Atlantic (NA) thermohaline circulation are investigated in different phases of the Atlantic Multidecadal...     

Meridional carbon dioxide transport in the northern North Atlantic

Combination of estimated water transport and accurate measurements of total carbon dioxide (TCO₂) on a hydrographic section at 58 °N allows the assessment of meridional inorganic carbon transport in the northern North Atlantic Ocean. The transport has been decomposed into contributions from the large-scale baroclinic overturning, the Ekman transport, baroclinic and a barotropic eddy terms, and an estimated contribution of the East Greenland Current. These terms are −0.27 · 10⁶, +0.03 · 10⁶, +0.03 · 10⁶, +0.10 · 10⁶, and +0.05 · 10⁶ mol s⁻¹, respectively, which result in a total southward inorganic carbon transport of only −0.06 · 10⁶ mol s⁻¹. An order of magnitude estimate of the meridional transport of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) has shown that in general this term cannot be ignored in the total carbon flux, this being +0.04 · 10⁶ to +0.16 · 10⁶ mol s⁻¹ at 58 °N. A simple carbon budget has been formulated for the temperate North Atlantic, using our flux estimates as well as those of Brewer et al. (1989). This budget shows that the divergence of the meridional carbon flux, connected with the freshwater balance of the ocean may be of the same order of magnitude as the divergence of the total inorganic carbon flux. For an accurate estimate of the total carbon budget of the ocean it will be necessary to take both the DOC transport and the effects of the freshwater balance into account.     

Meridional Mass Transport of Bottom Water in the South Atlantic

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Estimates of the meridional mass transport of Antarctic Bottom Water, calculated using the coupled ocean-atmosphere Earth System Model on the basis of...     

Modeling Residual Meridional Circulation at Different Phases of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The sensitivity of the residual meridional circulation (RMC) in the middle and upper atmosphere to the phase change of the quasi-biennial oscillation...     

The Atlantic Meridional Transect: overview and synthesis of data

The Atlantic Meridional Transect programme uses the twice-annual passage of the RRS James Clark Ross between the UK and the Falkland Islands, before and after the Antarctic research programme in the Austral Summer (see Aiken, J., & Bale, A. J. (2000). An introduction to the Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT) Programme. Progress in Oceanography, this issue). This paper examines the scientific rationale for a spatially-extensive time and space series programme and reviews the relevant physical and biological oceanography of the Atlantic Ocean. The main scientific observations from the research programme are reported. These are set in the context of historical and contemporary observations pertinent to the principal objectives of the cruise, notably the satellite remotely sensed observations of ocean properties. The extent to which the programme goals have been realised by the research to date is assessed and discussed. New bio-optical signatures, which can be related to productivity parameters, have been derived. These can be used to interpret remotely sensed observations of ocean colour in terms of productivity and production processes such as the air/sea exchange of biogenic gases, which relate to the issues of climate change and the sustainability of marine ecosystems.     

Meridional heat transport in the model of the general circulation for the North Atlantic

The meridional heat transport obtained from numerical experiments using the general circulation model for the North Atlantic encompassing the equatorial area is analysed. The surface turbulent layer is included in the model, and its realization is based on conservative difference schemes. It is shown that the upper 50 m layer plays a dominant role in the formation of meridional heat transport in the low latitudes.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Picoplankton community structure on the Atlantic Meridional Transect: a comparison between seasons

Samples collected from 10 depths at 25 stations in September–October 1996 and 12 depths at 28 stations in April–May 1997 on an Atlantic Meridional Transect between the British Isles and the Falkland Islands were analysed by flow cytometry to determine the numbers and biomass of four categories of picoplankton: Prochlorococcus spp, Synechococcus spp, picoeukaryotic phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria. The composition of the picoplankton communities confirmed earlier findings (Zubkov, Sleigh, Tarran, Burkill & Leakey, 1998) about distinctive regions along the transect and indicated that the stations should be grouped into five provinces: northern temperate, northern Atlantic gyre, equatorial, southern Atlantic gyre and southern temperate, with an intrusion of upwelling water off the coast of Mauritania between the northern Atlantic gyre and equatorial waters. Prochlorococcus was the most numerous phototrophic organism in waters of both northern and southern gyres and in the equatorial region, at concentrations in excess of 0.1×10⁶ml⁻¹; it also dominated plant biomass in the gyres, but the biomass of the larger picoeukaryotic algae equalled that of Prochlorococcus in the equatorial region; higher standing stocks of both Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes were present in spring than in autumn in waters of both gyres. In temperate waters at both ends of the transect the numbers and biomass of picoeukaryotes and, more locally, of Synechococcus increased, and the Synechococcus, particularly, were more numerous in spring than in autumn. There was a pronounced southward shift of the main populations of both Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus in April–May in comparison to those of September–October, associated with seasonal changes in solar radiation, the abundance of Prochlorococcus dropping sharply near the 17°C contour, while Synechococcus was still present at temperatures below 10°C. Picoeukaryotes were more tolerant of low temperatures and lower light levels, often being more abundant in samples from greater depths, where they contributed to the deep chlorophyll maximum. Heterotrophic bacterial numbers and biomass tended to be highest in those samples where phototrophic biomass was greatest, with peaks in temperate and equatorial waters, which were shifted southwards in April–May compared with September–October.     

南大西洋副热带偶极子的年际变化

南大西洋副热带偶极子(South Atlantic Subtropical Dipole;SASD)为南大西洋海洋与大气相互作用的主要模态。它的空间型为海表面温度异常呈现东北-西南偶极子分布。当SASD指数大于1,为SASD正事件,小于-1,为负事件。根据1960-2016年HadISST(Hadley Center Global Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature)数据,本文鉴别出57年中共发生6次正事件和9次负事件。SASD存在显著的5~8年周期的年际变化特征。本文进一步利用1992-2016年ECCO2(Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean,PhaseⅡ)模式数据,根据温度倾向方程分别诊断了SASD西南极和东北极的混合层温度变化。诊断结果表明,SASD的年际变化主要来自于表面热力强迫项的年际变化。考虑到表面热力强迫项主要由短波辐射项控制,SASD的年际变化最终来源于短波辐射项的年际变化。     

Variability of Sea Surface Circulation in the Japan Sea

Composite sea surface dynamic heights (CSSDH) are calculated from both sea surface dynamic heights that are derived from altimetric data of ERS-2 and mean sea surface that is calculated by a numerical model. The CSSDH are consistent with sea surface temperature obtained by satellite and observed water temperature. Assuming the geostrophic balance, sea surface current velocities are calculated. It is found that temporal and spatial variations of sea surface circulation are considerably strong. In order to examine the characteristics of temporal and spatial variation of current pattern, EOF analysis is carried out with use of the CSSDH for 3.5 years. The spatial and temporal variations of mode 1 indicate the strength or weakness of sea surface circulation over the entire Japan Sea associated with seasonal variation of volume transport through the Tsushima Strait. The spatial and temporal variations of mode 2 mostly indicate the temporal variation of the second branch of the Tsushima Warm Current and the East Korean Warm Current. It is suggested that this variation is possibly associated with the seasonal variation of volume transport through the west channel of the Tsushima Strait. Variations of mode 3 indicate the interannual variability in the Yamato Basin.