Earth Sciences

Decadal changes in Atlantic overturning due to the excessive 1990s Labrador Sea convection

C. W. Böning, P. Wagner, et al.

This exciting research from authors C. W. Böning, P. Wagner, P. Handmann, F. U. Schwarzkopf, K. Getzlaff, and A. Biastoch uncovers important insights into the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its intricate relationship with climate variability. The study defies previous models, revealing that while Labrador Sea winters took a dramatic turn in the 1990s, their real impact on AMOC is more complex than once thought.

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Abstract

Changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are crucial for Northern Hemisphere climate variability. Modeling studies link decadal overturning variability to Labrador Sea deep winter convection intensity. This study challenges that linkage using simulations capturing observed downwelling concentration in the northeastern Atlantic and negligible interannual Labrador Sea convection impact recently. However, exceptionally cold 1990s Labrador Sea winters caused a >20% positive AMOC anomaly, primarily by increasing northeastern North Atlantic downwelling. The remote effect of excessive Labrador Sea buoyancy forcing involves rapid mid-depth density anomaly spread into the Irminger Sea and entrainment into the Greenland deep boundary current.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Aug 02, 2023

Authors

C. W. Böning, P. Wagner, P. Handmann, F. U. Schwarzkopf, K. Getzlaff, A. Biastoch

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