Coherence of the AMOC Over the Subpolar North Atlantic on Interannual to Multiannual Time Scales

Abstract Direct measurements of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are necessary to understand its evolution in a context of climate change. International programs monitored its recent evolution at different latitudes. However, the AMOC coherence over the North Atlantic remains u...

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Main Authors: T. Petit, J. Robson, D. Ferreira, S. Yeager, D. G. Evans
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115171
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author T. Petit
J. Robson
D. Ferreira
S. Yeager
D. G. Evans
author_facet T. Petit
J. Robson
D. Ferreira
S. Yeager
D. G. Evans
author_sort T. Petit
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Direct measurements of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are necessary to understand its evolution in a context of climate change. International programs monitored its recent evolution at different latitudes. However, the AMOC coherence over the North Atlantic remains unclear. Here, we explore the potential of the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Programme (OSNAP) array to inform us on mid‐latitude AMOC strength on interannual‐to‐multiannual timescales in two high‐resolution coupled models. We find that the AMOC strength measured at OSNAP is not related to the variability of the AMOC strength at mid‐latitudes. Instead, our study reveals that the density at which the maximum overturning occurs at OSNAP is a key precursor of the mid‐latitude AMOC strength. The causal relationship between AMOC density at the OSNAP array and AMOC strength at 45°N is linked to an atmospherically driven shoaling of isopycnal surfaces that propagates along the western boundary in a year.
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spelling doaj-art-81971e101a614e79a3c35276d3eda4bb2025-08-20T02:01:20ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-05-01529n/an/a10.1029/2025GL115171Coherence of the AMOC Over the Subpolar North Atlantic on Interannual to Multiannual Time ScalesT. Petit0J. Robson1D. Ferreira2S. Yeager3D. G. Evans4National Oceanography Centre Southampton UKNational Centre for Atmospheric Science Department of Meteorology University of Reading Reading UKDepartment of Meteorology University of Reading Reading UKNational Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USANational Oceanography Centre Southampton UKAbstract Direct measurements of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are necessary to understand its evolution in a context of climate change. International programs monitored its recent evolution at different latitudes. However, the AMOC coherence over the North Atlantic remains unclear. Here, we explore the potential of the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Programme (OSNAP) array to inform us on mid‐latitude AMOC strength on interannual‐to‐multiannual timescales in two high‐resolution coupled models. We find that the AMOC strength measured at OSNAP is not related to the variability of the AMOC strength at mid‐latitudes. Instead, our study reveals that the density at which the maximum overturning occurs at OSNAP is a key precursor of the mid‐latitude AMOC strength. The causal relationship between AMOC density at the OSNAP array and AMOC strength at 45°N is linked to an atmospherically driven shoaling of isopycnal surfaces that propagates along the western boundary in a year.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115171Atlantic Meridional Overturning CirculationNorth Atlantic Oscillationhigh‐resolution coupled modelsboundary anomalies
spellingShingle T. Petit
J. Robson
D. Ferreira
S. Yeager
D. G. Evans
Coherence of the AMOC Over the Subpolar North Atlantic on Interannual to Multiannual Time Scales
Geophysical Research Letters
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
North Atlantic Oscillation
high‐resolution coupled models
boundary anomalies
title Coherence of the AMOC Over the Subpolar North Atlantic on Interannual to Multiannual Time Scales
title_full Coherence of the AMOC Over the Subpolar North Atlantic on Interannual to Multiannual Time Scales
title_fullStr Coherence of the AMOC Over the Subpolar North Atlantic on Interannual to Multiannual Time Scales
title_full_unstemmed Coherence of the AMOC Over the Subpolar North Atlantic on Interannual to Multiannual Time Scales
title_short Coherence of the AMOC Over the Subpolar North Atlantic on Interannual to Multiannual Time Scales
title_sort coherence of the amoc over the subpolar north atlantic on interannual to multiannual time scales
topic Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
North Atlantic Oscillation
high‐resolution coupled models
boundary anomalies
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115171
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AT dferreira coherenceoftheamocoverthesubpolarnorthatlanticoninterannualtomultiannualtimescales
AT syeager coherenceoftheamocoverthesubpolarnorthatlanticoninterannualtomultiannualtimescales
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