scholarly journals Northern North Atlantic sea surface height and ocean heat content variability

2013 ◽  
Vol 118 (7) ◽  
pp. 3670-3678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirpa Häkkinen ◽  
Peter B. Rhines ◽  
Denise L. Worthen
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface Height ◽  
Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface

scholarly journals On the Relationship between Regional Ocean Heat Content and Sea Surface Height

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (22) ◽  
pp. 9195-9211 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Fasullo ◽  
Peter R. Gent
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface Height ◽  
Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Ocean Dynamics ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Model Control ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract An accurate diagnosis of ocean heat content (OHC) is essential for interpreting climate variability and change, as evidenced for example by the broad range of hypotheses that exists for explaining the recent hiatus in global mean surface warming. Potential insights are explored here by examining relationships between OHC and sea surface height (SSH) in observations and two recently available large ensembles of climate model simulations from the mid-twentieth century to 2100. It is found that in decadal-length observations and a model control simulation with constant forcing, strong ties between OHC and SSH exist, with little temporal or spatial complexity. Agreement is particularly strong on monthly to interannual time scales. In contrast, in forced transient warming simulations, important dependencies in the relationship exist as a function of region and time scale. Near Antarctica, low-frequency SSH variability is driven mainly by changes in the circumpolar current associated with intensified surface winds, leading to correlations between OHC and SSH that are weak and sometimes negative. In subtropical regions, and near other coastal boundaries, negative correlations are also evident on long time scales and are associated with the accumulated effects of changes in the water cycle and ocean dynamics that underlie complexity in the OHC relationship to SSH. Low-frequency variability in observations is found to exhibit similar negative correlations. Combined with altimeter data, these results provide evidence that SSH increases in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans during the hiatus are suggestive of substantial OHC increases. Methods for developing the applicability of altimetry as a constraint on OHC more generally are also discussed.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of the time-varying sea surface height and heat content trends in the eastern Nordic Seas

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Broomé ◽  
Léon Chafik ◽  
Johan Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Decadal Variability ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Heat Budget ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface Height ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Nordic Seas ◽  
Sea Surface Heights

Abstract. The Nordic Seas is the main ocean conveyor of heat between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Although the decadal variability of the Subpolar North Atlantic has been given significant attention lately, especially regarding the cooling trend since mid-2000s, less is known about the potential connection downstream in the northern basins. Using sea surface heights from satellite altimetry over the past 25 years (1993–2017), we find significant variability on multiyear-to-decadal time scales in the Nordic Seas. In particular, the regional trends in sea surface height show signs of a slowdown since mid-2000s as compared to the rapid increase in the preceding decade since early 1990s. This change is most prominent in the Atlantic origin waters in the eastern Nordic Seas and is closely linked, as estimated from hydrography, to heat content. Furthermore, we formulate a simple heat budget for the eastern Nordic Seas to discuss the relative importance of local and remote sources of variability; advection of temperature anomalies in the Atlantic inflow is found to be the main mechanism. A conceptual model of ocean heat convergence, with only upstream temperature measurements at the inflow to the Nordic Seas as input, is able to reproduce key aspects of the decadal variability of the Nordic Seas' heat content. Based on these results, we argue that there is a strong connection with the upstream Subpolar North Atlantic. However, although the shift in trends in the mid-2000s is coincident in the Nordic Seas and the Subpolar North Atlantic, the eastern Nordic Seas has not seen a reversal of trends but instead maintain elevated sea surface heights and heat content in the recent decade considered here.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of decadal changes in sea surface height and heat content in the eastern Nordic Seas

Ocean Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-728
Author(s):  
Sara Broomé ◽  
Léon Chafik ◽  
Johan Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Decadal Variability ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Heat Budget ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface Height ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Nordic Seas ◽  
Sea Surface Heights

Abstract. The Nordic Seas constitute the main ocean conveyor of heat between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Although the decadal variability in the subpolar North Atlantic has been given significant attention lately, especially regarding the cooling trend since the mid-2000s, less is known about the potential connection downstream in the northern basins. Using sea surface heights from satellite altimetry over the past 25 years (1993–2017), we find significant variability on multiyear to decadal timescales in the Nordic Seas. In particular, the regional trends in sea surface height show signs of a weakening since the mid-2000s, as compared to the rapid increase in the preceding decade since the early 1990s. This change is most prominent in the Atlantic origin waters in the eastern Nordic Seas and is closely linked, as estimated from hydrography, to heat content. Furthermore, we formulate a simple heat budget for the eastern Nordic Seas to discuss the relative importance of local and remote sources of variability; advection of temperature anomalies in the Atlantic inflow is found to be the main mechanism. A conceptual model of ocean heat convergence, with only upstream temperature measurements at the inflow to the Nordic Seas as input, is able to reproduce key aspects of the decadal variability in the heat content of the Nordic Seas. Based on these results, we argue that there is a strong connection with the upstream subpolar North Atlantic. However, although the shift in trends in the mid-2000s is coincident in the Nordic Seas and the subpolar North Atlantic, the eastern Nordic Seas have not seen a reversal of trends but instead maintain elevated sea surface heights and heat content in the recent decade considered here.

scholarly journals Predictability of North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature and Upper-Ocean Heat Content

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 3005-3023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha W. Buckley ◽  
Tim DelSole ◽  
M. Susan Lozier ◽  
Laifang Li
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Upper Ocean ◽  
Upper Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Regional Variations

Abstract Understanding the extent to which Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are predictable is important due to the strong climate impacts of Atlantic SST on Atlantic hurricanes and temperature and precipitation over adjacent landmasses. However, models differ substantially on the degree of predictability of Atlantic SST and upper-ocean heat content (UOHC). In this work, a lower bound on predictability time scales for SST and UOHC in the North Atlantic is estimated purely from gridded ocean observations using a measure of the decorrelation time scale based on the local autocorrelation. Decorrelation time scales for both wintertime SST and UOHC are longest in the subpolar gyre, with maximum time scales of about 4–6 years. Wintertime SST and UOHC generally have similar decorrelation time scales, except in regions with very deep mixed layers, such as the Labrador Sea, where time scales for UOHC are much larger. Spatial variations in the wintertime climatological mixed layer depth explain 51%–73% (range for three datasets analyzed) of the regional variations in decorrelation time scales for UOHC and 26%–40% (range for three datasets analyzed) of the regional variations in decorrelation time scales for wintertime SST in the extratropical North Atlantic. These results suggest that to leading order decorrelation time scales for UOHC are determined by the thermal memory of the ocean.

scholarly journals Insights into Decadal North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature and Ocean Heat Content Variability from an Eddy-Permitting Coupled Climate Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (18) ◽  
pp. 6137-6161 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. I. Moat ◽  
B. Sinha ◽  
S. A. Josey ◽  
J. Robson ◽  
P. Ortega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface

Abstract An ocean mixed layer heat budget methodology is used to investigate the physical processes determining subpolar North Atlantic (SPNA) sea surface temperature (SST) and ocean heat content (OHC) variability on decadal to multidecadal time scales using the state-of-the-art climate model HadGEM3-GC2. New elements include development of an equation for evolution of anomalous SST for interannual and longer time scales in a form analogous to that for OHC, parameterization of the diffusive heat flux at the base of the mixed layer, and analysis of a composite Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) event. Contributions to OHC and SST variability from two sources are evaluated: 1) net ocean–atmosphere heat flux and 2) all other processes, including advection, diffusion, and entrainment for SST. Anomalies in OHC tendency propagate anticlockwise around the SPNA on multidecadal time scales with a clear relationship to the phase of the AMOC. AMOC anomalies lead SST tendencies, which in turn lead OHC tendencies in both the eastern and western SPNA. OHC and SST variations in the SPNA on decadal time scales are dominated by AMOC variability because it controls variability of advection, which is shown to be the dominant term in the OHC budget. Lags between OHC and SST are traced to differences between the advection term for OHC and the advection–entrainment term for SST. The new results have implications for interpretation of variations in Atlantic heat uptake in the CMIP6 climate model assessment.

scholarly journals Mechanisms underlying recent decadal changes in subpolar North Atlantic Ocean heat content

2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (9) ◽  
pp. 7181-7197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Piecuch ◽  
Rui M. Ponte ◽  
Christopher M. Little ◽  
Martha W. Buckley ◽  
Ichiro Fukumori
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Ocean Heat Content

How Well Do Climate Models Reproduce North Atlantic Subtropical Mode Water?

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 2230-2244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenfu Dong ◽  
Kathryn A. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Upper Ocean ◽  
Upper Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Mode Water

Abstract Formation and the subsequent evolution of the subtropical mode water (STMW) involve various dynamic and thermodynamic processes. Proper representation of mode water variability and contributions from various processes in climate models is important in order to predict future climate change under changing forcings. The North Atlantic STMW, often referred to as Eighteen Degree Water (EDW), in three coupled models, both with data assimilation [GFDL coupled data assimilation (GFDL CDA)] and without data assimilation [GFDL Climate Model, version 2.1 (GFDL CM2.1), and NCAR Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3)], is analyzed to evaluate how well EDW processes are simulated in those models and to examine whether data assimilation alters the model response to forcing. In comparison with estimates from observations, the data-assimilating model gives a better representation of the formation rate, the spatial distribution of EDW, and its thickness, with the largest EDW variability along the Gulf Stream (GS) path. The EDW formation rate in GFDL CM2.1 is very weak because of weak heat loss from the ocean in the model. Unlike the observed dominant southward movement of the EDW, the EDW in GFDL CM2.1 and CCSM3 moves eastward after formation in the excessively wide GS in the models. However, the GFDL CDA does not capture the observed thermal response of the overlying atmosphere to the ocean. Observations show a robust anticorrelation between the upper-ocean heat content and air–sea heat flux, with upper-ocean heat content leading air–sea heat flux by a few months. This anticorrelation is well captured by GFDL CM2.1 and CCSM3 but not by GFDL CDA. Only GFDL CM2.1 captures the observed anticorrelation between the upper-ocean heat content and EDW volume. This suggests that, although data assimilation corrects the readily observed variables, it degrades the model thermodynamic response to forcing.

scholarly journals Changes in Ocean Heat Content Caused by Wave-Induced Mixing in a High-Resolution Ocean Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1139-1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lachlan Stoney ◽  
Kevin J. E. Walsh ◽  
Steven Thomas ◽  
Paul Spence ◽  
Alexander V. Babanin
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Additional Term ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Ocean Heat Content ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Wave Heights ◽  
Wave Induced

Abstract A parameterization of turbulent mixing from unbroken surface waves is included in a 16-yr simulation within a high-resolution ocean circulation model (MOM5). This “surface wave mixing” (SWM) derives from the wave orbital motion and is parameterized as an additional term in a k-epsilon model. We show that SWM leads to significant changes in sea surface temperatures but smaller changes in ocean heat content, and show the extent to which these changes can reduce pre-existing model biases with respect to observed data. Specifically, SWM leads to a widespread improvement in sea surface temperature in both hemispheres in summer and winter, while for ocean heat content the improvements are less clear. In addition, we show that introducing SWM can lead to an accumulation of wave-induced ocean heat content between years. While it has been well established that secular positive trends exist in global wave heights, we find that such trends are relatively unimportant in driving the accumulation of wave-induced ocean heat content. Rather, in response to the new source of mixing, the simulated ocean climate evolves toward a new equilibrium with greater total ocean heat content.

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