title: Observed flow compensation associated with the MOC at 26.5 degrees N in the Atlantic.
abstract: The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC), which provides one-quarter of the global meridional heat transport, is composed of a number of separate flow components. How changes in the strength of each of those components may affect that of the others has been unclear because of a lack of adequate data. We continuously observed the MOC at 26.5 degrees N for 1 year using end-point measurements of density, bottom pressure, and ocean currents; cable measurements across the Straits of Florida; and wind stress. The different transport components largely compensate for each other, thus confirming the validity of our monitoring approach. The MOC varied over the period of observation by +/-5.7 x 10(6) cubic meters per second, with density-inferred and wind-driven transports contributing equally to it. We find evidence for depth-independent compensation for the wind-driven surface flow.
authors: National Oceanography Centre, Empress Dock, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK. tok@noc.soton.ac.uk
authors: Torsten
authors: T
authors: Kanzow
authors: Stuart A
authors: SA
authors: Cunningham
authors: Darren
authors: D
authors: Rayner
authors: Joël J-M
authors: JJ
authors: Hirschi
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: Johns
authors: Molly O
authors: MO
authors: Baringer
authors: Harry L
authors: HL
authors: Bryden
authors: Lisa M
authors: LM
authors: Beal
authors: Christopher S
authors: CS
authors: Meinen
authors: Jochem
authors: J
authors: Marotzke