When Simplification Leads to Ambiguity: A Look at Two Ocean Metrics for the Subpolar North Atlantic
Abstract The AMOC FINGERPRINT and GYRE INDEX are two widely used metrics by the oceanographic community to assess whether northward ocean heat transport, and consequently temperature variability in the subpolar North Atlantic, is primarily governed by the Atlantic overturning circulation or the hori...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112496 |
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| author | Léon Chafik M. Susan Lozier |
| author_facet | Léon Chafik M. Susan Lozier |
| author_sort | Léon Chafik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The AMOC FINGERPRINT and GYRE INDEX are two widely used metrics by the oceanographic community to assess whether northward ocean heat transport, and consequently temperature variability in the subpolar North Atlantic, is primarily governed by the Atlantic overturning circulation or the horizontal gyre circulation. Although these metrics are presented as distinct measures of subpolar ocean circulation, we contend that they are not unique indicators of the dynamics they are intended to represent. Instead, our analysis demonstrates that both metrics are essentially capturing variability in upper ocean heat content, which can result from a number of mechanisms. This conclusion, corroborated with direct overturning measurements from the OSNAP and RAPID programs, raises concerns about the use of these metrics to infer the dynamics responsible for past and projected changes in subpolar ocean temperatures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f3df9a3c2eeb44ef8fcb82b746a6cc27 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-f3df9a3c2eeb44ef8fcb82b746a6cc272025-08-20T02:52:30ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-02-01523n/an/a10.1029/2024GL112496When Simplification Leads to Ambiguity: A Look at Two Ocean Metrics for the Subpolar North AtlanticLéon Chafik0M. Susan Lozier1Department of Meteorology and Bolin Centre for Climate Research Stockholm University Stockholm SwedenSchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA USAAbstract The AMOC FINGERPRINT and GYRE INDEX are two widely used metrics by the oceanographic community to assess whether northward ocean heat transport, and consequently temperature variability in the subpolar North Atlantic, is primarily governed by the Atlantic overturning circulation or the horizontal gyre circulation. Although these metrics are presented as distinct measures of subpolar ocean circulation, we contend that they are not unique indicators of the dynamics they are intended to represent. Instead, our analysis demonstrates that both metrics are essentially capturing variability in upper ocean heat content, which can result from a number of mechanisms. This conclusion, corroborated with direct overturning measurements from the OSNAP and RAPID programs, raises concerns about the use of these metrics to infer the dynamics responsible for past and projected changes in subpolar ocean temperatures.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112496AMOCgyreocean heat content |
| spellingShingle | Léon Chafik M. Susan Lozier When Simplification Leads to Ambiguity: A Look at Two Ocean Metrics for the Subpolar North Atlantic Geophysical Research Letters AMOC gyre ocean heat content |
| title | When Simplification Leads to Ambiguity: A Look at Two Ocean Metrics for the Subpolar North Atlantic |
| title_full | When Simplification Leads to Ambiguity: A Look at Two Ocean Metrics for the Subpolar North Atlantic |
| title_fullStr | When Simplification Leads to Ambiguity: A Look at Two Ocean Metrics for the Subpolar North Atlantic |
| title_full_unstemmed | When Simplification Leads to Ambiguity: A Look at Two Ocean Metrics for the Subpolar North Atlantic |
| title_short | When Simplification Leads to Ambiguity: A Look at Two Ocean Metrics for the Subpolar North Atlantic |
| title_sort | when simplification leads to ambiguity a look at two ocean metrics for the subpolar north atlantic |
| topic | AMOC gyre ocean heat content |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL112496 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leonchafik whensimplificationleadstoambiguityalookattwooceanmetricsforthesubpolarnorthatlantic AT msusanlozier whensimplificationleadstoambiguityalookattwooceanmetricsforthesubpolarnorthatlantic |