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Reconciling the Relationship Between the AMOC and Labrador Sea in OSNAP Observations and Climate Models

Publication ,  Journal Article
Menary, MB; Jackson, LC; Lozier, MS
Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
September 28, 2020

The AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation) is a key driver of climate variability. Our understanding, based largely on climate models, is that the Labrador Sea has an important role in shaping the evolution of the AMOC. However, a recent high-profile observational campaign (Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic, OSNAP) has called into question the importance of the Labrador Sea, and hence the credibility of the AMOC representation in climate models. Here, we attempt to reconcile these viewpoints by making the first direct comparison between OSNAP and a coupled climate model. The model compares well to the observations, demonstrating a more prominent role for overturning in the eastern than western subpolar gyre. Density anomalies generated by surface forcing in the Irminger Sea propagate into the Labrador Sea, where they dominate the density variability. Thus, the Labrador Sea may not be the origin of AMOC variability despite correlations with densities there.

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Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

EISSN

1944-8007

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

September 28, 2020

Volume

47

Issue

18

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
 

Citation

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Menary, M. B., Jackson, L. C., & Lozier, M. S. (2020). Reconciling the Relationship Between the AMOC and Labrador Sea in OSNAP Observations and Climate Models. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(18). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089793
Menary, M. B., L. C. Jackson, and M. S. Lozier. “Reconciling the Relationship Between the AMOC and Labrador Sea in OSNAP Observations and Climate Models.” Geophysical Research Letters 47, no. 18 (September 28, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089793.
Menary MB, Jackson LC, Lozier MS. Reconciling the Relationship Between the AMOC and Labrador Sea in OSNAP Observations and Climate Models. Geophysical Research Letters. 2020 Sep 28;47(18).
Menary, M. B., et al. “Reconciling the Relationship Between the AMOC and Labrador Sea in OSNAP Observations and Climate Models.” Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 47, no. 18, Sept. 2020. Scopus, doi:10.1029/2020GL089793.
Menary MB, Jackson LC, Lozier MS. Reconciling the Relationship Between the AMOC and Labrador Sea in OSNAP Observations and Climate Models. Geophysical Research Letters. 2020 Sep 28;47(18).
Journal cover image

Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

EISSN

1944-8007

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

September 28, 2020

Volume

47

Issue

18

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences