Temporal variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.5 degrees N.
The vigor of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is thought to be vulnerable to global warming, but its short-term temporal variability is unknown so changes inferred from sparse observations on the decadal time scale of recent climate change are uncertain. We combine continuous measurements of the MOC (beginning in 2004) using the purposefully designed transatlantic Rapid Climate Change array of moored instruments deployed along 26.5 degrees N, with time series of Gulf Stream transport and surface-layer Ekman transport to quantify its intra-annual variability. The year-long average overturning is 18.7 +/- 5.6 sverdrups (Sv) (range: 4.0 to 34.9 Sv, where 1 Sv = a flow of ocean water of 10(6) cubic meters per second). Interannual changes in the overturning can be monitored with a resolution of 1.5 Sv.
Cunningham
Stuart A
SA
National Oceanography Centre, Empress Dock, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK. scu@noc.soton.ac.uk
Kanzow
Torsten
T
Rayner
Darren
D
Baringer
Molly O
MO
Johns
William E
WE
Marotzke
Jochem
J
Longworth
Hannah R
HR
Grant
Elizabeth M
EM
Hirschi
Joël J-M
JJ
Beal
Lisa M
LM
Meinen
Christopher S
CS
Bryden
Harry L
HL