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Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection
Published on: September 5, 2018
Comment on "The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation without a role for ocean circulation"
Rong Zhang1, Rowan Sutton2, Gokhan Danabasoglu3
1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, USA. rong.zhang@noaa.gov.
Ocean dynamics are central to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Our findings challenge the view that the AMO is solely a thermodynamic response to atmospheric changes, highlighting the critical role of ocean circulation.
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Climate Science
- Atmospheric Science
Background:
- The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is a significant mode of climate variability.
- Previous research suggested the AMO is a thermodynamic response to atmospheric forcing.
Discussion:
- This study refutes the claim that ocean circulation changes do not influence the AMO.
- We demonstrate that ocean dynamics are fundamental to the AMO's behavior.
Key Insights:
- Ocean dynamics, not just atmospheric forcing, are a primary driver of the AMO.
- The AMO is not purely a thermodynamic response of the ocean mixed layer.
Outlook:
- Further research into ocean-atmosphere interactions is needed to fully understand the AMO.
- Incorporating ocean dynamics into climate models is crucial for accurate AMO prediction.
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