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NAO–ocean circulation interactions in a coupled general circulation model
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
3.7. Dinamica del clima e dell'oceano
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
7-8/31(2008)
Publisher
SPRINGER
Pages (printed)
759-777
Issued date
December 2008
Keywords
Abstract
The interplay between the North Atlantic Oscillation and the large scale ocean circulation is inspected in a 20th century simulation conducted with a state-of-the-art coupled general circulation model. Significant lead-lag covariance between oceanic and tropospheric variables suggests that the system supports a damped oscillatory mode involving an active ocean-atmosphere coupling, with a typical NAO-like space structure and a 5 years timescale, qualitatively consistent with a mid-latitude delayed oscillator paradigm. The two essential processes governing the oscillation are 1) a negative feedback between ocean gyre circulation and the high latitude SST meridional gradient and 2) a positive feedback between SST and the NAO. The atmospheric NAO pattern appears to have a weaker projection on the ocean meridional overturning, compared to the gyre circulation, which leads to a secondary role for the thermohaline circulation in driving the meridional heat transport, and thus the oscillatory mode.
Sponsors
ENSEMBLES contract:GOCECT-2003-505539
References
Anderson D, Bryan K, Gill A, Pacanowski R (1979) The transient response of the North Atlantic:
Some model studies, J Geophys Res,84:4795-4815.
Bellucci A, Richards KJ (2006) Effects of NAOvariability on the North Atlantic Ocean circulation,
Geophys Res Lett ,33,L02612,DOI 10.1029/2005GL024890.
Blackman R, Tukey JW (1958) The measurement of power spectra from the point of view of
communication engineering. Dover, Mineola, N.Y.
Cayan D (1992) Latent and sensible heat flux anomalies over the Northern oceans: driving the sea
surface temperature, J Phys Oceanogr, 22:859-881.
Czaja A, Frankignoul C (2002) Observed impact of Atlantic SST anomalies on the North Atlantic
Oscillation. J Clim, 15:606-623.
Czaja A, Marshall J (2001) Observations of atmosphere ocean coupling in the North Atlantic. J
Royal Meteor Soc, 127:1893-1916.
D’Andrea F, Czaja A, Marshall J (2005) Impact of anomalous ocean heat transport on the North
Atlantic Oscillation. J Clim, 18:4955-4969.
Deser C, Blackmon R (1993) Surface climate variations over the North Atlantic during
winter:1900-1989. J Clim, 10:393-408.
Eden C, Greatbatch R (2003) A damped decadal oscillation in the North Atlantic climate system.
J Clim, 16:4043-4060.
Eden C, Willebrandt J (2001) Mechanisms of interannual to decadal variability in the North Atlantic
circulation. J Clim, 14:2266-2280.
Feldstein SB (2000) The timescale, power spectra, and climate noise properties of teleconnection
patterns. J Clim, 13:4430-4440.
Ferreira D, Frankignoul C (2005) The transient atmospheric to midlatitude SST anomalies. J Clim,
18:1049-1067.
Fichefet T, Morales-Maqueda MA (1999) Modelling the influence of snow accumulation and
snow-ice formation on the seasonal cycle of the Antarctic sea-ice cover. Clim Dyn, 15:251-
22
268.
Frankignoul C, Hasselmann K (1977) Stochastic climate models, part II: applications to seasurface
temperature variability and thermocline variability. Tellus, 29:289-305.
Frankignoul C, Czaja A, L’Heveder B (1998) Air-sea feedback in the North Atlantic and surface
boundary conditions for ocean models. J Clim, 11:2310-2324.
Frankignoul C, Kestenare E, Senn´echael N, de Co¨etlogon, D’Andrea F (2000) On decadal-scale
ocean-atmosphere interactions in the extended ECHAM1/LSG climate simulation. Clim Dyn,
16:333-354.
Gualdi S, Navarra A, Guilyardi E, Delecluse P (2003a) Assessment of the tropical Indo-Pacific
climate in the SINTEX CGCM. Ann. Geophysics, 46:1-26.
Gualdi S, Guilyardi E, Navarra A, Masina S, Delecluse P (2003b) The interannual variability in
the tropical Indian Ocean as simulated by a CGCM. Clim Dyn, 20:567-582.
Gualdi S, Scoccimarro E, Navarra A (2007) Changes in tropical cyclone activity due to global
warming: results from a high-resolution coupled general circulation model. Submitted to J
Clim.
Guilyardi E, Delecluse P, Gualdi S, Navarra A (2003) Mechanisms for ENSO phase change in a
coupled GCM. Clim Dyn, 16:1141-1158.
Hurrell J, Kushnir Y, Ottersen G, Visbeck M (2003) An overview of the North Atlantic Oscillation.
In: The North Atlantic Oscillation:climatic significance and environmental impact, Ed: J
Hurrell, J Kushnir, G Ottersen and M Visbeck.
Kaplan A, Kushnir Y, CaneM, Blumenthal B (1997) Reduced space optimal analysis for historical
datasets:136 years of Atlantic sea surface temperatures. J Geophys Res, 102:27835-27860.
Killworth P, Chelton D, de Szoeke R (1997) The speed of observed and theoretical long extratropical
planetary waves. J Phys Oceanogr, 27:1946-1966.
Kuhlbrodt T, Griesel A, Montoya M, Levermann A, Hofmann M., Rahmstorf S. (2007) On the
driving processes of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Rev Geophys, 45:1-32.
Latif M, Barnett T (1996) Decadal climate variability over the North Pacific and North America:
dynamics and predictability. J Clim, 9:2407-2423.
23
Marotzke J, Klinger B (2000) A study of the interaction of the North Atlantic Oscillation with the
ocean circulation. J Phys Oceanogr, 30:955-970.
Marshall J, Johnson H, Goodman J (2001) A study of the interaction of the North Atlantic Oscillation
with the ocean circulation. J Clim, 14:1399-1421.
Peng S, Whitaker JS (1999) Mechanisms determining the atmospheric response to midlatitude
SST anomalies. J Clim, 12:1393-1408.
Peng S, Robinson W, Li S (2002) North Atlantic SST forcing of the NAO and relationships with
intrinsic hemispheric variability. Geophys Res Lett, 29,1276, DOI 10.1029/2001GL014043.
Peng S, Robinson W, Li S (2003) Mechanisms for the NAO responses to the North Atlantic SST
tripole. J Clim, 16:1987-2004.
Rodwell M, Rowell D, Folland C (1999) Oceanic forcing of the wintertime North Atlantic Oscillation
and European climate. Nature, 398:320-323.
Saravanan R, McWilliams J (1998) Advective ocean-atmosphere interaction: an analytical
stochastic model with implications for decadal variability. J Clim, 11:165-188.
Stephenson D, Pavan V, Collins M, Junge M, Quadrelli R (2006) North Atlantic Oscillation response
to transient greenhouse gas forcing and the impact on European winter climate: a CMIP2
multi-model assessment. Clim Dyn. 27:401-420, DOI 10.1007/s00382-006-0140-x.
Storch HV, Zwiers FW(1999) Statistical analysis in climate research. Cambridge University Press,
United Kingdom.
Sutton RT, Allen MR (1997) Decadal predictability of North Atlantic sea surface temperature and
climate. Nature, 388:563-567.
Thompson D, Lee S, Baldwin M (2003) Atmospheric processes governing the Northern Hemisphere
Annular Mode/North Atlantic Oscillation In: The North Atlantic Oscillation:climatic
significance and environmental impact, Ed: J Hurrell, J Kushnir, G Ottersen and M Visbeck.
Visbeck M, Chassignet E, Curry RG, Delworth T, Dickson R, Krahmann G (2003) The ocean’s
response to North Atlantic Oscillation. In: The North Atlantic Oscillation: climatic significance
and environmental impact, Ed: J Hurrell, J Kushnir, G Ottersen and M Visbeck.
Wunsch C (1999) The interpretation of short climate records, with comments on the North Atlantic
24
Oscillation and Southern Oscillations. Bull Am Meteor Soc, 80:245-255.
Zorita E, Frankignoul C (1997) Modes of North Atlantic decadal variability in the ECHAM1/LSG
coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model. J Clim, 10:183:200.
Some model studies, J Geophys Res,84:4795-4815.
Bellucci A, Richards KJ (2006) Effects of NAOvariability on the North Atlantic Ocean circulation,
Geophys Res Lett ,33,L02612,DOI 10.1029/2005GL024890.
Blackman R, Tukey JW (1958) The measurement of power spectra from the point of view of
communication engineering. Dover, Mineola, N.Y.
Cayan D (1992) Latent and sensible heat flux anomalies over the Northern oceans: driving the sea
surface temperature, J Phys Oceanogr, 22:859-881.
Czaja A, Frankignoul C (2002) Observed impact of Atlantic SST anomalies on the North Atlantic
Oscillation. J Clim, 15:606-623.
Czaja A, Marshall J (2001) Observations of atmosphere ocean coupling in the North Atlantic. J
Royal Meteor Soc, 127:1893-1916.
D’Andrea F, Czaja A, Marshall J (2005) Impact of anomalous ocean heat transport on the North
Atlantic Oscillation. J Clim, 18:4955-4969.
Deser C, Blackmon R (1993) Surface climate variations over the North Atlantic during
winter:1900-1989. J Clim, 10:393-408.
Eden C, Greatbatch R (2003) A damped decadal oscillation in the North Atlantic climate system.
J Clim, 16:4043-4060.
Eden C, Willebrandt J (2001) Mechanisms of interannual to decadal variability in the North Atlantic
circulation. J Clim, 14:2266-2280.
Feldstein SB (2000) The timescale, power spectra, and climate noise properties of teleconnection
patterns. J Clim, 13:4430-4440.
Ferreira D, Frankignoul C (2005) The transient atmospheric to midlatitude SST anomalies. J Clim,
18:1049-1067.
Fichefet T, Morales-Maqueda MA (1999) Modelling the influence of snow accumulation and
snow-ice formation on the seasonal cycle of the Antarctic sea-ice cover. Clim Dyn, 15:251-
22
268.
Frankignoul C, Hasselmann K (1977) Stochastic climate models, part II: applications to seasurface
temperature variability and thermocline variability. Tellus, 29:289-305.
Frankignoul C, Czaja A, L’Heveder B (1998) Air-sea feedback in the North Atlantic and surface
boundary conditions for ocean models. J Clim, 11:2310-2324.
Frankignoul C, Kestenare E, Senn´echael N, de Co¨etlogon, D’Andrea F (2000) On decadal-scale
ocean-atmosphere interactions in the extended ECHAM1/LSG climate simulation. Clim Dyn,
16:333-354.
Gualdi S, Navarra A, Guilyardi E, Delecluse P (2003a) Assessment of the tropical Indo-Pacific
climate in the SINTEX CGCM. Ann. Geophysics, 46:1-26.
Gualdi S, Guilyardi E, Navarra A, Masina S, Delecluse P (2003b) The interannual variability in
the tropical Indian Ocean as simulated by a CGCM. Clim Dyn, 20:567-582.
Gualdi S, Scoccimarro E, Navarra A (2007) Changes in tropical cyclone activity due to global
warming: results from a high-resolution coupled general circulation model. Submitted to J
Clim.
Guilyardi E, Delecluse P, Gualdi S, Navarra A (2003) Mechanisms for ENSO phase change in a
coupled GCM. Clim Dyn, 16:1141-1158.
Hurrell J, Kushnir Y, Ottersen G, Visbeck M (2003) An overview of the North Atlantic Oscillation.
In: The North Atlantic Oscillation:climatic significance and environmental impact, Ed: J
Hurrell, J Kushnir, G Ottersen and M Visbeck.
Kaplan A, Kushnir Y, CaneM, Blumenthal B (1997) Reduced space optimal analysis for historical
datasets:136 years of Atlantic sea surface temperatures. J Geophys Res, 102:27835-27860.
Killworth P, Chelton D, de Szoeke R (1997) The speed of observed and theoretical long extratropical
planetary waves. J Phys Oceanogr, 27:1946-1966.
Kuhlbrodt T, Griesel A, Montoya M, Levermann A, Hofmann M., Rahmstorf S. (2007) On the
driving processes of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Rev Geophys, 45:1-32.
Latif M, Barnett T (1996) Decadal climate variability over the North Pacific and North America:
dynamics and predictability. J Clim, 9:2407-2423.
23
Marotzke J, Klinger B (2000) A study of the interaction of the North Atlantic Oscillation with the
ocean circulation. J Phys Oceanogr, 30:955-970.
Marshall J, Johnson H, Goodman J (2001) A study of the interaction of the North Atlantic Oscillation
with the ocean circulation. J Clim, 14:1399-1421.
Peng S, Whitaker JS (1999) Mechanisms determining the atmospheric response to midlatitude
SST anomalies. J Clim, 12:1393-1408.
Peng S, Robinson W, Li S (2002) North Atlantic SST forcing of the NAO and relationships with
intrinsic hemispheric variability. Geophys Res Lett, 29,1276, DOI 10.1029/2001GL014043.
Peng S, Robinson W, Li S (2003) Mechanisms for the NAO responses to the North Atlantic SST
tripole. J Clim, 16:1987-2004.
Rodwell M, Rowell D, Folland C (1999) Oceanic forcing of the wintertime North Atlantic Oscillation
and European climate. Nature, 398:320-323.
Saravanan R, McWilliams J (1998) Advective ocean-atmosphere interaction: an analytical
stochastic model with implications for decadal variability. J Clim, 11:165-188.
Stephenson D, Pavan V, Collins M, Junge M, Quadrelli R (2006) North Atlantic Oscillation response
to transient greenhouse gas forcing and the impact on European winter climate: a CMIP2
multi-model assessment. Clim Dyn. 27:401-420, DOI 10.1007/s00382-006-0140-x.
Storch HV, Zwiers FW(1999) Statistical analysis in climate research. Cambridge University Press,
United Kingdom.
Sutton RT, Allen MR (1997) Decadal predictability of North Atlantic sea surface temperature and
climate. Nature, 388:563-567.
Thompson D, Lee S, Baldwin M (2003) Atmospheric processes governing the Northern Hemisphere
Annular Mode/North Atlantic Oscillation In: The North Atlantic Oscillation:climatic
significance and environmental impact, Ed: J Hurrell, J Kushnir, G Ottersen and M Visbeck.
Visbeck M, Chassignet E, Curry RG, Delworth T, Dickson R, Krahmann G (2003) The ocean’s
response to North Atlantic Oscillation. In: The North Atlantic Oscillation: climatic significance
and environmental impact, Ed: J Hurrell, J Kushnir, G Ottersen and M Visbeck.
Wunsch C (1999) The interpretation of short climate records, with comments on the North Atlantic
24
Oscillation and Southern Oscillations. Bull Am Meteor Soc, 80:245-255.
Zorita E, Frankignoul C (1997) Modes of North Atlantic decadal variability in the ECHAM1/LSG
coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model. J Clim, 10:183:200.
Type
article