scholarly journals Atmospheric multidecadal variations in the North Atlantic realm: proxy data, observations, and atmospheric circulation model studies

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Grosfeld ◽  
G. Lohmann ◽  
N. Rimbu ◽  
K. Fraedrich ◽  
F. Lunkeit
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Proxy Data ◽  
Model Studies ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract. We investigate the spatial and temporal characteristics of multidecadal climate variability in the North Atlantic realm, using observational data, proxy data and model results. The dominant pattern of multidecadal variability of SST depicts a monopolar structure in the North Atlantic during the instrumental period with cold (warm) phases during 1900–1925 and 1970–1990 (1870–1890 and 1940–1960). Two atmospheric general circulation models of different complexity forced with global SST over the last century show SLP anomaly patterns from the warm and cold phases of the North Atlantic similar to the corresponding observed patterns. The analysis of a sediment core from Cariaco Basin, a coral record from the northern Red Sea, and a long-term sea level pressure (SLP) reconstruction reveals that the multidecadal mode of the atmospheric circulation characterizes climate variability also in the pre-industrial era. The analyses of SLP reconstruction and proxy data depict a persistent atmospheric mode at least over the last 300 years, where SLP shows a dipolar structure in response to monopolar North Atlantic SST, in a similar way as the models' responses do. The combined analysis of observational and proxy data with model experiments provides an understanding of multidecadal climate modes during the late Holocene. The related patterns are useful for the interpretation of proxy data in the North Atlantic realm.

scholarly journals Atmospheric multidecadal variations in the North Atlantic realm: proxy data, observations, and atmospheric circulation model studies

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-656
Author(s):  
K. Grosfeld ◽  
G. Lohmann ◽  
N. Rimbu ◽  
K. Fraedrich ◽  
F. Lunkeit
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Proxy Data ◽  
Model Studies ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract. We investigate the spatial and temporal characteristics of multidecadal climate variability in the North Atlantic realm, using observational data, proxy data and model results. The dominant pattern of multidecadal variability of SST depicts a monopolar structure in the North Atlantic during the instrumental period with cold (warm) phases during 1900–1925 and 1970–1990 (1870–1890 and 1940–1960). Two atmospheric general circulation models of different complexity forced with global SST over the last century show SLP anomaly patterns from the warm and cold phases of the North Atlantic similar to the corresponding observed patterns. The analysis of a sediment core from Cariaco Basin, a coral record from the northern Red Sea, and a long-term sea level pressure (SLP) reconstruction reveals that the multidecadal mode of the atmospheric circulation characterizes climate variability also in the pre-industrial era. The analyses of SLP reconstruction and proxy data depict a persistent atmospheric mode at least over the last 300 years, where SLP shows a dipolar structure in response to monopolar North Atlantic SST, in a similar way as the models' responses do. The combined analysis of observational and proxy data with model experiments provides an understanding of multidecadal climate modes during the late Holocene. The related patterns are useful for the interpretation of proxy data in the North Atlantic realm.

Understanding intrinsic ocean variability by suppressing regional stochastic variability

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mao-Lin Shen ◽  
Noel Keenlyside ◽  
Ping-Gin Chiu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Intrinsic Variability ◽  
Atlantic Basin ◽  
Ocean Variability ◽  
North Atlantic Basin ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

<p>Intrinsic ocean variability is essential for climate prediction because it is less sensitive to stochastic process, but it is very difficult to be identified due to internal climate variability. Here we use regional interactive ensemble applied on ocean-atmosphere interface (RIE-OA) to suppress atmosphere stochastic variability and to reveal intrinsic variability as well as to understand climate dynamic across multiple timescales. Five atmosphere general circulation models (AGCM) are coupled to an ocean general circulation model (OGCM) over the North Atlantic basin (20<sup>o</sup>N to Denmark Strait and Greenland-Scotland ridge). The OGCM interacts with fluxes from a selected AGCM globally except over the North Atlantic basin where the OGCM interacts with the ensemble averaged fluxes from the five AGCMs. The five AGCMs, on the other hand, feel the same ocean states. Hence, the atmosphere stochastic variability impacting the ocean is one-fifth weaker than stand-alone configuration (control case). This leads to reduction of the local climate variability, such as Atlantic Multidecadal Variability, but should not reduce intrinsic variability. Comparing control cases and RIE-OA case, we found the intrinsic ocean variability, a narrow-banded low-frequency (about 8 to 20 years) signal over the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, is not influenced by the weakened stochastic variability. More details will be discussed.</p>

scholarly journals The North Atlantic as a Driver of Summer Atmospheric Circulation

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (17) ◽  
pp. 7335-7351
Author(s):  
Joe M. Osborne ◽  
Mat Collins ◽  
James A. Screen ◽  
Stephen I. Thomson ◽  
Nick Dunstone
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Dominant Mode ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Seasonal Forecasts ◽  
Summer Circulation ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

AbstractSkill in seasonal forecasts in the Northern Hemisphere extratropics is mostly limited to winter. Drivers of summer circulation anomalies over the North Atlantic–European (NAE) sector are poorly understood. Here, we investigate the role of North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in driving summer atmospheric circulation changes. The summer North Atlantic Oscillation (SNAO), the leading mode of observed summer atmospheric circulation variability in the NAE sector, is correlated with a distinct SST tripole pattern in the North Atlantic. An atmospheric general circulation model is used to test whether there are robust atmospheric circulation responses over the NAE sector to concurrent SSTs related to the SNAO. The most robust responses project onto the summer east Atlantic (SEA) pattern, the second dominant mode of observed summer atmospheric circulation variability in the NAE sector, and are most evident at the surface in response to tropical SSTs and at altitude in response to extratropical SSTs. The tropical-to-extratropical teleconnection appears to be due to Rossby wave propagation from SST anomalies, and in turn precipitation anomalies, in the Caribbean region. We identify key biases in the model, which may be responsible for the overly dominant SEA pattern variability, compared to the SNAO, and may also explain why the responses resemble the SEA pattern, rather than the SNAO. Efforts to eradicate these biases, perhaps achieved by higher-resolution simulations or with improved model physics, would allow for an improved understanding of the true response to North Atlantic SST patterns.

Distinguishing Stratospheric Sudden Warmings from ENSO as Key Drivers of Wintertime Climate Variability over the North Atlantic and Eurasia

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1959-1969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo M. Polvani ◽  
Lantao Sun ◽  
Amy H. Butler ◽  
Jadwiga H. Richter ◽  
Clara Deser
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Seasonal Prediction ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
The North ◽  
Stratospheric Sudden Warmings ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Observational Record

Stratospheric conditions are increasingly being recognized as an important driver of North Atlantic and Eurasian climate variability. Mindful that the observational record is relatively short, and that internal climate variability can be large, the authors here analyze a new 10-member ensemble of integrations of a stratosphere-resolving, atmospheric general circulation model, forced with the observed evolution of sea surface temperature (SST) during 1952–2003. Previous studies are confirmed, showing that El Niño conditions enhance the frequency of occurrence of stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs), whereas La Niña conditions do not appear to affect it. However, large differences are noted among ensemble members, suggesting caution when interpreting the relatively short observational record. More importantly, it is emphasized that the majority of SSWs are not caused by anomalous tropical Pacific SSTs. Comparing composites of winters with and without SSWs in each ENSO phase separately, it is demonstrated that stratospheric variability gives rise to large and statistically significant anomalies in tropospheric circulation and surface conditions over the North Atlantic and Eurasia. This indicates that, for those regions, climate variability of stratospheric origin is comparable in magnitude to variability originating from tropical Pacific SSTs, so that the occurrence of a single SSW in a given winter is able to completely alter seasonal climate predictions based solely on ENSO conditions. These findings, corroborating other recent studies, highlight the importance of accurately forecasting SSWs for improved seasonal prediction of North Atlantic and Eurasian climate.

scholarly journals Marine productivity response to Heinrich events: a model-data comparison

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 1581-1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Mariotti ◽  
L. Bopp ◽  
A. Tagliabue ◽  
M. Kageyama ◽  
D. Swingedouw
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Biogeochemical Model ◽  
Heinrich Events ◽  
The North ◽  
Heinrich Event ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Marine Productivity

Abstract. Marine sediments records suggest large changes in marine productivity during glacial periods, with abrupt variations especially during the Heinrich events. Here, we study the response of marine biogeochemistry to such an event by using a biogeochemical model of the global ocean (PISCES) coupled to an ocean-atmosphere general circulation model (IPSL-CM4). We conduct a 400-yr-long transient simulation under glacial climate conditions with a freshwater forcing of 0.1 Sv applied to the North Atlantic to mimic a Heinrich event, alongside a glacial control simulation. To evaluate our numerical results, we have compiled the available marine productivity records covering Heinrich events. We find that simulated primary productivity and organic carbon export decrease globally (by 16% for both) during a Heinrich event, albeit with large regional variations. In our experiments, the North Atlantic displays a significant decrease, whereas the Southern Ocean shows an increase, in agreement with paleo-productivity reconstructions. In the Equatorial Pacific, the model simulates an increase in organic matter export production but decreased biogenic silica export. This antagonistic behaviour results from changes in relative uptake of carbon and silicic acid by diatoms. Reasonable agreement between model and data for the large-scale response to Heinrich events gives confidence in models used to predict future centennial changes in marine production. In addition, our model allows us to investigate the mechanisms behind the observed changes in the response to Heinrich events.

scholarly journals North Atlantic 20th century multidecadal variability in coupled climate models: sea surface temperature and ocean overturning circulation

Ocean Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Medhaug ◽  
T. Furevik
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Meridional Overturning Circulation ◽  
Overturning Circulation ◽  
Atlantic Sector ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract. Output from a total of 24 state-of-the-art Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models is analyzed. The models were integrated with observed forcing for the period 1850–2000 as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report. All models show enhanced variability at multi-decadal time scales in the North Atlantic sector similar to the observations, but with a large intermodel spread in amplitudes and frequencies for both the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The models, in general, are able to reproduce the observed geographical patterns of warm and cold episodes, but not the phasing such as the early warming (1930s–1950s) and the following colder period (1960s–1980s). This indicates that the observed 20th century extreme in temperatures are due to primarily a fortuitous phasing of intrinsic climate variability and not dominated by external forcing. Most models show a realistic structure in the overturning circulation, where more than half of the available models have a mean overturning transport within the observed estimated range of 13–24 Sverdrup. Associated with a stronger than normal AMOC, the surface temperature is increased and the sea ice extent slightly reduced in the North Atlantic. Individual models show potential for decadal prediction based on the relationship between the AMO and AMOC, but the models strongly disagree both in phasing and strength of the covariability. This makes it difficult to identify common mechanisms and to assess the applicability for predictions.

The Effect of a Large Freshwater Perturbation on the Glacial North Atlantic Ocean Using a Coupled General Circulation Model

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 4436-4447 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Hewitt ◽  
A. J. Broccoli ◽  
M. Crucifix ◽  
J. M. Gregory ◽  
J. F. B. Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Quasi Equilibrium ◽  
Last Glacial ◽  
Proxy Records ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
The Last Glacial

Abstract The commonly held view of the conditions in the North Atlantic at the last glacial maximum, based on the interpretation of proxy records, is of large-scale cooling compared to today, limited deep convection, and extensive sea ice, all associated with a southward displaced and weakened overturning thermohaline circulation (THC) in the North Atlantic. Not all studies support that view; in particular, the “strength of the overturning circulation” is contentious and is a quantity that is difficult to determine even for the present day. Quasi-equilibrium simulations with coupled climate models forced by glacial boundary conditions have produced differing results, as have inferences made from proxy records. Most studies suggest the weaker circulation, some suggest little or no change, and a few suggest a stronger circulation. Here results are presented from a three-dimensional climate model, the Hadley Centre Coupled Model version 3 (HadCM3), of the coupled atmosphere–ocean–sea ice system suggesting, in a qualitative sense, that these diverging views could all have occurred at different times during the last glacial period, with different modes existing at different times. One mode might have been characterized by an active THC associated with moderate temperatures in the North Atlantic and a modest expanse of sea ice. The other mode, perhaps forced by large inputs of meltwater from the continental ice sheets into the northern North Atlantic, might have been characterized by a sluggish THC associated with very cold conditions around the North Atlantic and a large areal cover of sea ice. The authors’ model simulation of such a mode, forced by a large input of freshwater, bears several of the characteristics of the Climate: Long-range Investigation, Mapping, and Prediction (CLIMAP) Project’s reconstruction of glacial sea surface temperature and sea ice extent.

scholarly journals Modelling the wintertime response to upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric ozone anomalies over the North Atlantic and Europe

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 2107-2118 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Kirchner ◽  
D. Peters
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Sensitivity Study ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Radiative Processes ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract. During boreal winter months, mean longitude-dependent ozone changes in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere are mainly caused by different ozone transport by planetary waves. The response to radiative perturbation induced by these ozone changes near the tropopause on the circulation is unclear. This response is investigated with the ECHAM4 general circulation model in a sensitivity study. In the simulation two different mean January realizations of the ozone field are implemented in ECHAM4. Both ozone fields are estimated on the basis of the observed mean January planetary wave structure of the 1980s. The first field represents a 14-year average (reference, 1979–1992) and the second one represents the mean ozone field change (anomaly, 1988–92) in boreal extra-tropics during the end of the 1980s. The model runs were carried out pairwise, with identical initial conditions for both ozone fields. Five statistically independent experiments were performed, forced with the observed sea surface temperatures for the period 1988 to 1992. The results support the hypothesis that the zonally asymmetric ozone changes of the 80s triggered a systematic alteration of the circulation over the North Atlantic – European region. It is suggested that this feedback process is important for the understanding of the decadal coupling between troposphere and stratosphere, as well as between subtropics and extra-tropics in winter.Key words. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (general circulation; radiative processes; synoptic-scale meteorology)

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