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Slowdown of the meridional overturning circulation in the upper Pacific Ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Michael J. McPhaden

    (NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)

  • Dongxiao Zhang

    (NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
    Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington)

Abstract

Decadal temperature fluctuations in the Pacific Ocean have a significant effect on marine ecosystems and the climate of North America. The physical mechanisms responsible for these fluctuations are poorly understood. Some theories ascribe a central role to the wind-driven meridional overturning circulation between the tropical and subtropical oceans. Here we show, from observations over the past 50 years, that this overturning circulation has been slowing down since the 1970s, causing a decrease in upwelling of about 25% in an equatorial strip between 9° N and 9° S. This reduction in equatorial upwelling of relatively cool water, from 47 × 106 to 35 × 106 m3 s-1, is associated with a rise in equatorial sea surface temperatures of about 0.8 °C. Another effect of the slowing circulation is a reduction in the outgassing of CO2 from the equatorial Pacific Ocean–at present the largest oceanic source of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. McPhaden & Dongxiao Zhang, 2002. "Slowdown of the meridional overturning circulation in the upper Pacific Ocean," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6872), pages 603-608, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:415:y:2002:i:6872:d:10.1038_415603a
    DOI: 10.1038/415603a
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    Cited by:

    1. John Chambers & Andrew Miller & Richard Morgan & Bob Officer & Mark Rayner & Graham Sellars-Jones & Tom Quirk, 2013. "A Review of the Scientific Evidence Underlying the Imposition of a Carbon Tax or Ets in Australia," Energy & Environment, , vol. 24(6), pages 1013-1026, October.
    2. John Chambers & Andrew Miller & Richard Morgan & Bob Officer & Mark Rayner & Tom Quirk, 2010. "Clearing the Air on Climate," Energy & Environment, , vol. 21(6), pages 633-639, October.
    3. R. S. Akhila & J. Kuttippurath & R. Rahul & A. Chakraborty, 2022. "Genesis and simultaneous occurrences of the super cyclone Kyarr and extremely severe cyclone Maha in the Arabian Sea in October 2019," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 113(2), pages 1133-1150, September.
    4. Keith Brander, 2013. "Climate and current anthropogenic impacts on fisheries," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 119(1), pages 9-21, July.

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