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Investigating the Relationship between Sea Surface Chlorophyll and Major Features of the South China Sea with Satellite Information
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Atmospheric blocking and Atlantic multidecadal ocean variability.

Sirpa Häkkinen1, Peter B Rhines, Denise L Worthen

  • 1National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 615, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA. sirpa.hakkinen@nasa.gov

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PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Atmospheric blocking events in the North Atlantic influence ocean circulation, leading to warmer and saltier subpolar oceans. This connection explains long-term ocean variability, including past warming trends.

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Area of Science:

  • Climatology and Oceanography
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions

Background:

  • Atmospheric blocking isolates large air regions from prevailing winds for extended periods (≥5 days).
  • These blocking events significantly impact North Atlantic wind patterns and, consequently, ocean circulation and properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between atmospheric blocking in the North Atlantic and ocean circulation and properties.
  • To determine if atmospheric blocking explains observed ocean warming and salinity patterns, including decadal and multidecadal variability.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of atmospheric blocking frequency and location over the northern North Atlantic.
  • Correlation of blocking events with oceanographic data, focusing on subpolar ocean temperature and salinity.
  • Examination of wind forcing associated with blocked regimes and its impact on ocean gyres and heat exchange.

Main Results:

  • Frequent atmospheric blocking clusters between Greenland and western Europe correspond to warmer, more saline subpolar ocean conditions.
  • This correlation is evident in recent decadal periods (e.g., 1996-2010) and longer timescales.
  • The wind forcing from blocked regimes weakens ocean gyres and heat exchange, contributing to the warm phase of Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV).

Conclusions:

  • Atmospheric blocking is a key driver of North Atlantic ocean variability, influencing both short-term and long-term climate patterns.
  • The study confirms the link between blocked winds and warmer ocean states, explaining phenomena like the pre-greenhouse-gas warming in the mid-20th century.
  • Understanding these ocean-atmosphere interactions is crucial for predicting future climate changes and ocean behavior.