Transport of salt and freshwater in the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre

Born, Andreas; Stocker, Thomas; Sandø, Anne Britt (2016). Transport of salt and freshwater in the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre. Ocean Dynamics, 66(9), pp. 1051-1064. Springer 10.1007/s10236-016-0970-y

Preview

Text Born_10.1007_s10236-016-0970-y.pdf - Published Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (8MB) | Preview

Transport of salt in the Irminger Current, the northern branch of the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre coupling the eastern and western subpolar North Atlantic, plays an important role for climate variability across a wide range of time scales. High-resolution ocean modeling and observations indicate that salinities in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic decrease with enhanced circulation of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre (SPG). This has led to the perception that a stronger SPG also transports less salt westward. In this study, we analyze a regional ocean model and a comprehensive global coupled climate model, and show that a stronger SPG transports more salt in the Irminger Current irrespective of lower salinities in its source region. The additional salt converges in the Labrador Sea and the Irminger Basin by eddy transports, increases surface salinity in the western SPG, and favors more intense deep convection. This is part of a positive feedback mechanism with potentially large implications for climate variability and predictability.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

25 since deposited on 28 Oct 2016
24 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item