Seasonal Cycles of Oceanic Transports in the Eastern Subpolar North Atlantic. Issue 2 (27th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gary, Stefan F.; Cunningham, Stuart A.; Johnson, Clare; Houpert, Loïc; Holliday, N. Penny; Behrens, Erik; Biastoch, Arne; Böning, Claus W.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 123:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 1471
• Page End: 1484
• Publication Date: 2018-02-27
• Subjects: Subpolar North Atlantic -- geostrophic transport -- Meridional Overturning Circulation -- hydrographic data quality control; Oceanography -- Periodicals; 551.4605
• DOI: 10.1002/2017JC013350
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9275

Abstract

Abstract: The variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may play a role in sea surface temperature predictions on seasonal to decadal time scales. Therefore, AMOC seasonal cycles are a potential baseline for interpreting predictions. Here we present estimates for the seasonal cycle of transports of volume, temperature, and freshwater associated with the upper limb of the AMOC in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic on the Extended Ellett Line hydrographic section between Scotland and Iceland. Due to weather, ship‐based observations are primarily in summer. Recent glider observations during other seasons present an opportunity to investigate the seasonal variability in the upper layer of the AMOC. First, we document a new method to quality control and merge ship, float, and glider hydrographic observations. This method accounts for the different spatial sampling rates of the three platforms. The merged observations are used to compute seasonal cycles of volume, temperature, and freshwater transports in the Rockall Trough. These estimates are similar to the seasonal cycles in two eddy‐resolving ocean models. Volume transport appears to be the primary factor modulating other Rockall Trough transports. Finally, we show that the weakest transports occur in summer, consistent with seasonal changes in the regional‐scale wind stress curl. Although the seasonal cycle is weak compared to other variability in this region, the amplitude of the seasonal cycle in the Rockall Trough, roughly 0.5–1 Sv about a mean of 3.4 Sv, may account for up to 7–14% of the heat flux between Scotland and Greenland. Key Points: The seasonal cycle of eastern North Atlantic volume transport has a moderate amplitude with weakest northeastward transport in summer The weakest transports in summer are consistent with seasonal changes in the gradient of the regional wind stress curl Volume transport dominates temperature and freshwater transports