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Large-scale control of the retroflection of the Labrador Current

Author

Listed:
  • Mathilde Jutras

    (McGill University)

  • Carolina O. Dufour

    (McGill University)

  • Alfonso Mucci

    (McGill University
    Université du Québec à Montréal)

  • Lauryn C. Talbot

    (McGill University)

Abstract

The Labrador Current transports cold, relatively fresh, and well-oxygenated waters within the subpolar North Atlantic and towards the eastern American continental shelf. The relative contribution of these waters to either region depends on the eastward retroflection of the Labrador Current at the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Here, we develop a retroflection index based on the pathway of virtual Lagrangian particles and show that strong retroflection generally occurs when a large-scale circulation adjustment, related to the subpolar gyre, accelerates the Labrador Current and shifts the Gulf Stream northward, partly driven by a northward shift of the wind patterns in the western North Atlantic. Starting in 2008, a particularly strong northward shift of the Gulf Stream dominates the other drivers. A mechanistic understanding of the drivers of the Labrador Current retroflection should help predict changes in the water properties in both export regions, and anticipate their impacts on marine life and deep-water formation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathilde Jutras & Carolina O. Dufour & Alfonso Mucci & Lauryn C. Talbot, 2023. "Large-scale control of the retroflection of the Labrador Current," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38321-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38321-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mariona Claret & Eric D. Galbraith & Jaime B. Palter & Daniele Bianchi & Katja Fennel & Denis Gilbert & John P. Dunne, 2018. "Rapid coastal deoxygenation due to ocean circulation shift in the northwest Atlantic," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(10), pages 868-872, October.
    2. N. Penny Holliday & Manfred Bersch & Barbara Berx & Léon Chafik & Stuart Cunningham & Cristian Florindo-López & Hjálmar Hátún & William Johns & Simon A. Josey & Karin Margretha H. Larsen & Sandrine Mu, 2020. "Ocean circulation causes the largest freshening event for 120 years in eastern subpolar North Atlantic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
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