Mechanisms of Internal Atlantic Multidecadal Variability in HadGEM3-GC3.1 at Two Different Resolutions

This study broadly characterises and compares the key processes governing internal AMV in two resolutions of HadGEM3-GC3.1: N216ORCA025, corresponding to ~ 60km in the atmosphere and 0.25° in the ocean, and N96ORCA1 (~ 135km / 1°). Both models simulate AMV with a timescale of 60-80 years, which is related to low frequency ocean and atmosphere circulation changes. In both models, ocean heat transport convergence dominates polar and subpolar AMV, whereas surface heat fluxes associated with cloud changes drive subtropicalAMV. However, details of the ocean circulation changes differ between the models. In N216 subpolar subsurface density anomalies propagate into the subtropics along the western boundary, consistent with the more coherent circulation changes and widespread development of SST anomalies. In contrast, N96 subsurface density anomalies persist in the subpolar latitudes for longer, so circulation anomalies and the development of SST anomalies are more centred there. The drivers of subsurface density anomalies also differ between models. In N216, the NAO is the dominant driver, while upper-ocean salinity-controlled density anomalies that originate from the Arctic appear to be the dominant driver in N96. These results further highlight that internal AMV mechanisms are model dependent and motivate further work to better understand and constrain the differences.

The joint impacts of Atlantic and Pacific multidecadal variability on South American precipitation and temperature

South American climate is influenced by both Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) and Pacific multidecadal variability (PMV). But how they jointly affect South American precipitation and surface air temperature is not well understood. Here we analyze composite anomalies to quantify their combined impacts using observations and reanalysis data. During an AMV warm (cold) phase, PMV-induced JJA precipitation anomalies are more positive (negative) over 0°-10°S and southeastern South America, but more negative (positive) over the northern Amazon and central Brazil. PMV-induced precipitation anomalies in DJF are more positive (negative) over Northeast Brazil and southeastern South America during the warm (cold) AMV phase, but more negative (positive) over the central Amazon Basin and central-eastern Brazil. PMV’s impact on AMV-induced precipitation anomalies shows similar dipole patterns. The precipitation changes result from perturbations of the local Hadley and Walker Circulations. In JJA, PMV- and AMV-induced temperature anomalies are more positive (negative) over entire South America when the other basin is in a warm (cold) phase, but in DJF temperature anomalies are more positive (negative) only over the central Andes and central-eastern Brazil and more negative (positive) over southeastern South America and Patagonia. Over central Brazil in JJA and southern Bolivia and northern Argentina in DJF, the temperature and precipitation anomalies are negatively correlated. Our results show that the influence of Pacific and Atlantic multidecadal variability need to be considered jointly, as significant departures from the mean AMV or PMV fingerprint can occur during a cold or warm phase of the other basin’s mode.

Impacts of Atlantic multidecadal variability on the tropical Pacific: a multi-model study

Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) has been linked to the observed slowdown of global warming over 1998–2012 through its impact on the tropical Pacific. Given the global importance of tropical Pacific variability, better understanding this Atlantic–Pacific teleconnection is key for improving climate predictions, but the robustness and strength of this link are uncertain. Analyzing a multi-model set of sensitivity experiments, we find that models differ by a factor of 10 in simulating the amplitude of the Equatorial Pacific cooling response to observed AMV warming. The inter-model spread is mainly driven by different amounts of moist static energy injection from the tropical Atlantic surface into the upper troposphere. We reduce this inter-model uncertainty by analytically correcting models for their mean precipitation biases and we quantify that, following an observed 0.26 °C AMV warming, the equatorial Pacific cools by 0.11 °C with an inter-model standard deviation of 0.03 °C.

Internal Atlantic Multidecadal Variability mechanism at two model resolutions

<p>The Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) is a key factor in modulating climate change and its impacts around the world. Therefore, understanding of its physical mechanism will be crucial to achieving predictability on decadal timescales. However, details of the mechanism are not fully understood. This is evident in the wide range of simulated AMV timescales and spatial patterns exhibited by climate models in both pre-industrial and historical simulations.</p><p>In this study, we assess the impact of model resolution on the internal AMV mechanism by taking advantage of the close physical similarities between the medium- and low-resolution versions of the HadGEM3 models. Here, we present results from analysing the N96ORCA1 (~135km atmosphere, 1° ocean) and N216ORCA025 (~60km, 0.25°) pre-industrial simulations.</p><p>At both resolutions, we found that the internal AMV has a timescale of 70-100 years, comparable to the observed record. The processes driving decadal SST variability varies by latitude. Ocean heat transport changes associated with the AMOC drive subpolar variability, while surface fluxes associated with cloud and wind changes are more important in the subtropics. The AMOC strengthening is induced by density forcing from two sources. First, a Labrador Sea surface cooling driven by low-frequency positive NAO leads the AMOC by 5 years. Second, a source of anomalously saline Arctic water flowing into the subpolar North Atlantic also leads the AMOC by 5 years. Interestingly, the two resolutions disagree on the relative importance of these AMOC drivers. In the lower resolution model, the Arctic contribution is more important. However, the NAO dominates in the medium resolution model, and decadal NAO variability is more strongly associated with the AMV. Differences between the models are likely due to mean state differences including the strength and position of ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream, and their impacts on upper ocean properties.</p><p> </p>

Impacts of Atlantic Multidecadal Variability on the Tropical Pacific: a multi-model study

<p>The Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) has been linked to the observed slowdown of global warming over 1998-2012 through its impact on the tropical Pacific. Given the global importance of tropical Pacific variability, better understanding this Atlantic-Pacific teleconnection is key for improving climate predictions, but the robustness and strength of this link is uncertain. Analysing a multi-model set of sensitivity experiments, we find that models differ by a factor 10 in simulating the amplitude of the Equatorial Pacific cooling response to observed AMV warming. The inter-model spread is mainly driven by different amounts of moist static energy injection from the tropical Atlantic surface into the upper troposphere. We reduce this inter-model uncertainty by analytically correcting models for their mean precipitation biases and we quantify that, following an observed 0.26ºC AMV warming, the equatorial Pacific cools by 0.16ºC with an inter-model standard deviation of 0.03ºC.</p>

The Atlantic Multidecadal Variability phase-dependence of teleconnection between the North Atlantic Oscillation in February and the Tibetan Plateau in March

The Tibetan Plateau (TP), referred to as the “Asian water tower”, contains one of the largest land ice masses on Earth. The local glacier shrinkage and frozen-water storage are strongly affected by variations in surface air temperature over the TP (TPSAT), especially in springtime. This study reveals that the relationship between the February North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and March TPSAT is unstable with time and regulated by the phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV). The significant out-of-phase connection occurs only during the warm phase of AMV (AMV+). The results show that during the AMV+, the negative phase of the NAO persists from February to March, and is accompanied by a quasi-stationary Rossby wave train trapped along a northward-shifted subtropical westerly jet stream across Eurasia, inducing an anomalous adiabatic descent that warms the TP. However, during the cold phase of the AMV, the negative NAO can not persist into March. The Rossby wave train propagates along the well-separated polar and subtropical westerly jets, and the NAO−TPSAT connection is broken. Further investigation suggests that the enhanced synoptic eddy and low frequency flow (SELF) interaction over the North Atlantic in February and March during the AMV+, caused by the enhanced and southward-shifted storm track, help maintain the NAO anomaly pattern via positive eddy feedback. This study provides a new detailed perspective on the decadal variability of the North Atlantic−TP connection in late winter−early spring.

Modulation of the Occurrence of Heatwaves over the Euro-Mediterranean Region by the Intensity of the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability

The influence of the Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) and its amplitude on the Euro-Mediterranean summer climate is studied in two climate models, namely CNRM-CM5 and EC-Earth3P. Large ensembles of idealized experiments have been conducted in which North Atlantic sea surface temperatures are relaxed toward different amplitudes of the observed AMV anomalies. In agreement with observations, during a positive phase of the AMV both models simulate an increase (decrease) in temperature of 0.2°–0.8°C and a decrease (increase) in precipitation over the Mediterranean basin of 0.1–0.2 mm day−1 (northern half of Europe) compared to a negative phase. Heatwave durations over the Mediterranean land regions are 40% (up to 85% over the eastern regions) longer for a moderate amplitude of the AMV. Lower and higher amplitudes lead to longer durations of ~30% and ~100%, respectively. A comparison with observed heatwaves indicates that the AMV can considerably modulate the current anthropogenically forced response on heatwaves durations depending on the area and on the AMV amplitude. The related anticyclonic anomalies over the Mediterranean basin are associated with drier soils and a reduction of cloud cover, which concomitantly induce a decrease (increase) of the latent (sensible) heat flux, and an enhancement of the downward radiative fluxes over lands. It is found that both tropical and extratropical forcings from the AMV are needed to trigger mechanisms, which modulate the atmospheric circulation over the Euro-Atlantic region. The amplitude of the local climate response over the Mediterranean basin evolves linearly with the amplitude of the AMV. However, the strength of this relationship differs between the models, and depends on their intrinsic biases.