Pan-Atlantic decadal climate oscillation linked to ocean circulation
Nnamchi, Hyacinth C.; Farneti, Riccardo; Keenlyside, Noel Sebastian; Kucharski, Fred; Latif, Mojib; Reintges, Annika; Martin, Thomas
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Published version
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https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3075456Utgivelsesdato
2023Metadata
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- Geophysical Institute [1223]
- Registrations from Cristin [10237]
Sammendrag
Atlantic climate displays an oscillatory mode at a period of 10–15 years described as pan-Atlantic decadal oscillation. Prevailing theories on the mode are based on thermodynamic air-sea interactions and the role of ocean circulation remains uncertain. Here we uncover ocean circulation variability associated with the pan-Atlantic decadal oscillation using observational datasets from 1900–2009. Specifically, a sea level-derived index of ocean circulation also exhibits 10-15 year periodicity and leads the surface climate oscillation. The underlying ocean circulation links the extratropical and tropical Atlantic, where the maximum variance in surface-ocean temperature feeds back on the North Atlantic Oscillation (the leading mode of atmospheric variability over the North Atlantic region). Our findings imply that, rather than a passive role postulated by the thermodynamic paradigm, ocean circulation across the Atlantic plays an active role for the pan-Atlantic decadal climate oscillation.