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Formation of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation lower limb is critically dependent on Atlantic-Arctic mixing

Author

Listed:
  • Dipanjan Dey

    (University of Southampton
    Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar)

  • Robert Marsh

    (University of Southampton)

  • Sybren Drijfhout

    (University of Southampton
    Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute)

  • Simon A. Josey

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Bablu Sinha

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Jeremy Grist

    (National Oceanography Centre)

  • Kristofer Döös

    (Stockholm University)

Abstract

Deep-water formation in the eastern Subpolar North Atlantic Ocean (eSPNA) and Nordic Seas is crucial for maintaining the lower limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), of consequence for global climate. However, it is still uncertain which processes determine the deep-water formation and how much Atlantic and Arctic waters respectively contribute to the lower limb. To address this, here we used Lagrangian trajectories to diagnose a global eddy-resolving ocean model that agrees well with recent observations highlighting the eSPNA as a primary source of the AMOC lower limb. Comprised of 72% Atlantic waters and 28% Arctic waters, the density and depth of the AMOC lower limb is critically dependent on Atlantic-Arctic mixing, primarily in the vicinity of Denmark Strait. In contrast, Atlantic waters gaining density through air-sea interaction along the eastern periphery of Nordic Seas and not entering the Arctic Ocean make a negligible contribution to the lower limb.

Suggested Citation

  • Dipanjan Dey & Robert Marsh & Sybren Drijfhout & Simon A. Josey & Bablu Sinha & Jeremy Grist & Kristofer Döös, 2024. "Formation of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation lower limb is critically dependent on Atlantic-Arctic mixing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51777-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51777-w
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    1. F. Li & M. S. Lozier & S. Bacon & A. S. Bower & S. A. Cunningham & M. F. Jong & B. deYoung & N. Fraser & N. Fried & G. Han & N. P. Holliday & J. Holte & L. Houpert & M. E. Inall & W. E. Johns & S. Jon, 2021. "Subpolar North Atlantic western boundary density anomalies and the Meridional Overturning Circulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Stefanie Semper & Robert S. Pickart & Kjetil Våge & Karin Margretha H. Larsen & Hjálmar Hátún & Bogi Hansen, 2020. "The Iceland-Faroe Slope Jet: a conduit for dense water toward the Faroe Bank Channel overflow," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
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