Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/osd-10-555-2013
https://doi.org/10.5194/osd-10-555-2013
15 Mar 2013
 | 15 Mar 2013
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal OS but the revision was not accepted.

Coupling of eastern and western subpolar North Atlantic: salt transport in the Irminger Current

A. Born, T. F. Stocker, and A. B. Sandø

Abstract. Salt transport in the Irminger Current and thus the coupling between eastern and western subpolar North Atlantic plays an important role for climate variability across a wide range of time scales. High-resolution ocean modeling and observations indicate that salinities in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic decrease with enhanced circulation of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre (SPG). This has led to the perception that a stronger SPG also transports less salt westward. In this study, we analyze a regional ocean model and a comprehensive global coupled climate model, and show that a stronger SPG transports more salt in the Irminger Current irrespective of lower salinities in its source region. The additional salt converges in the Labrador Sea and the Irminger Basin by eddy transports, increases surface salinity in the western SPG, and favors more intense deep convection. This is part of a positive feedback mechanism with potentially large implications for climate variability and predictability.

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A. Born, T. F. Stocker, and A. B. Sandø
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
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Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
A. Born, T. F. Stocker, and A. B. Sandø
A. Born, T. F. Stocker, and A. B. Sandø

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