Remote influence of Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation on the South Atlantic meridional overturning circulation variability

Author(s)

Lopez, Hosmay ; Dong, Shenfu ; Lee, Sang-Ki ; Campos, Edmo

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Geophysical Research Letters; v. 43, n. 15, p. 8250-8258, AUG 16 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

This study explores potential factors that may influence decadal variability of the South Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (SAMOC) by using observational data as well as surface-forced ocean model runs and a fully coupled climate model run. Here we show that SAMOC is strongly correlated with the leading mode of sea surface height (SSH) variability in the South Atlantic Ocean, which displays a meridional dipole between north and south of 20 degrees S. A significant portion (similar to 45%) of the South Atlantic SSH dipole variability is remotely modulated by the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). Further analysis shows that anomalous tropical Pacific convection associated with the IPO forces robust stationary Rossby wave patterns, modulating the wind stress curl over the South Atlantic Ocean. A positive (negative) phase IPO increases (decreases) the westerlies over the South Atlantic, which increases (decreases) the strength of the subtropical gyre in the South Atlantic and thus the SAMOC. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/50552-4 - Impact of the Southern Atlantic on the global overturning circulation (MOC) and climate (SAMOC)
• Grantee: Edmo José Dias Campos
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants