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Evidence for external forcing of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation since termination of the Little Ice Age

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  • Mads Faurschou Knudsen

    (Centre for Past Climate Studies, Aarhus University)

  • Bo Holm Jacobsen

    (Centre for Past Climate Studies, Aarhus University)

  • Marit-Solveig Seidenkrantz

    (Centre for Past Climate Studies, Aarhus University)

  • Jesper Olsen

    (Aarhus University)

Abstract

The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) represents a significant driver of Northern Hemisphere climate, but the forcing mechanisms pacing the AMO remain poorly understood. Here we use the available proxy records to investigate the influence of solar and volcanic forcing on the AMO over the last ~450 years. The evidence suggests that external forcing played a dominant role in pacing the AMO after termination of the Little Ice Age (LIA; ca. 1400–1800), with an instantaneous impact on mid-latitude sea-surface temperatures that spread across the North Atlantic over the ensuing ~5 years. In contrast, the role of external forcing was more ambiguous during the LIA. Our study further suggests that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is important for linking external forcing with North Atlantic sea-surface temperatures, a conjecture that reconciles two opposing theories concerning the origin of the AMO.

Suggested Citation

  • Mads Faurschou Knudsen & Bo Holm Jacobsen & Marit-Solveig Seidenkrantz & Jesper Olsen, 2014. "Evidence for external forcing of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation since termination of the Little Ice Age," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4323
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4323
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    Cited by:

    1. Holt, Matthew T. & Teräsvirta, Timo, 2020. "Global hemispheric temperatures and co-shifting: A vector shifting-mean autoregressive analysis," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 214(1), pages 198-215.
    2. Dongling Li & Longbin Sha & Jialin Li & Hui Jiang & Yanguang Liu & Yanni Wu, 2017. "Summer Sea-Surface Temperatures and Climatic Events in Vaigat Strait, West Greenland, during the Last 5000 Years," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-16, April.

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