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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • Atlantic Overturning
  • Argo
  • Altimeter

Index Terms

  • Global Change: Climate variability
  • Global Change: Oceans
  • Oceanography: Physical: General circulation

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 37, L06602, 5 PP., 2010
doi:10.1029/2010GL042372

Can in situ floats and satellite altimeters detect long-term changes in Atlantic Ocean overturning?

Josh K. Willis

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

Global warming has been predicted to slow the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), resulting in significant regional climate impacts across the North Atlantic and beyond. Here, satellite observations of sea surface height (SSH) along with temperature, salinity and velocity from profiling floats are used to estimate changes in the northward-flowing, upper limb of the AMOC at latitudes around 41°N. The 2004 through 2006 mean overturning is found to be 15.5 ± 2.4 Sv (106 m3/s) with somewhat smaller seasonal and interannual variability than at lower latitudes. There is no significant trend in overturning strength between 2002 and 2009. Altimeter data, however, suggest an increase of 2.6 Sv since 1993, consistent with North Atlantic warming during this same period. Despite significant seasonal to interannual fluctuations, these observations demonstrate that substantial slowing of the AMOC did not occur during the past 7 years and is unlikely to have occurred in the past 2 decades.

Received 3 January 2010; accepted 18 February 2010; published 25 March 2010.

Citation: Willis, J. K. (2010), Can in situ floats and satellite altimeters detect long-term changes in Atlantic Ocean overturning?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L06602, doi:10.1029/2010GL042372.

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