Articles | Volume 16, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-16-979-2020
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-16-979-2020
Research article
 | 
27 Aug 2020
Research article |  | 27 Aug 2020

A new method to assess mesoscale contributions to meridional heat transport in the North Atlantic Ocean

Andrew Delman and Tong Lee

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Cited articles

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Bryan, F. O., Hecht, M. W., and Smith, R. D.: Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system, Ocean Model., 16, 141–159, 2007. a
Bryan, K.: Poleward heat transport by the ocean: observations and models, Annu. Rev. Earth Pl. Sc., 10, 15–38, 1982. a
Chassignet, E. P. and Marshall, D. P.: Gulf Stream separation in numerical ocean models, Geoph. Monog. Series, 177, 39–61, https://doi.org/10.1029/177GM05, 2008. a
Chelton, D. B., Schlax, M. G., and Samelson, R. M.: Global observations of nonlinear mesoscale eddies, Prog. Oceanogr., 91, 167–216, 2011. a
Short summary
The oceans play an important role in moving heat between the equatorial and polar regions, with both large current systems and smaller eddies contributing to this heat transport. This analysis separates the contribution of the larger-scale and eddy-scale flows in the North Atlantic, finding that eddy-scale flows account for 25–35 % of the heat transport in middle latitudes near 40° N. The study also shows how the year-to-year variability of eddies contributes to heat transport changes at 40° N.