Ocean Science
Ocean Science
OS
Articles | Volume 21, issue 5
Articles | Volume 21, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2101-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2101-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 21, issue 5
Research article
 | 
26 Sep 2025
Research article |  | 26 Sep 2025

Controls on dense-water formation along the path of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre

Oliver J. Tooth, Helen L. Johnson, and Chris Wilson

Data sets

Model Output from 1/12o Global JRA55-forced Integration of GO8p7 Global Ocean-Sea Ice Model from 1958 to 2021 A. Megann et al. https://doi.org/10.5285/399B0F762A004657A411A9EA7203493A

Controls on Dense Water Formation along the path of the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre - Water Parcel Crossings of the OSNAP Array (Version v1) O. Tooth https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14870254

Meridional Overturning Circulation Observed by the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP) Array from August 2014 to June 2020 Y. Fu et al. https://doi.org/10.35090/gatech/70342

Model code and software

TRACMASS: Formal Release of Version 7.0 Aitor Aldama-Campino et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4337926

oj-tooth/lt_toolbox: v0.1.0 (v0.1) O. Tooth https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15838857

oj-tooth/Tracmass_v7.1: v0.1.0 (v0.1.0) O. Tooth et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17105628

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Short summary
The North Atlantic subpolar gyre (SPG) forms dense water as part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. To explore the factors controlling dense-water formation around the SPG, we trace the pathways of virtual water parcels in a high-resolution ocean model. We show that the amount of dense water formed around the SPG depends principally on the availability of light waters flowing northward, such that a stronger SPG circulation results in more dense-water formation along-stream.
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