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Labrador Sea Export   -- the DWBC at 53°N as a Fingerprint of the AMOC?

A nnual Conference, Berlin October, 2014. Labrador Sea Export   -- the DWBC at 53°N as a Fingerprint of the AMOC?. J. Fischer, J. Karstensen, M. Visbeck, R. Zantopp, R. Kopte.

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Labrador Sea Export   -- the DWBC at 53°N as a Fingerprint of the AMOC?

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  1. Annual Conference, Berlin October, 2014 Labrador Sea Export  -- the DWBC at 53°N as a Fingerprint of the AMOC? J. Fischer, J. Karstensen, M. Visbeck, R. Zantopp, R. Kopte The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union 7th Framework Programme (FP7 2007-2013), under grant agreement n.308299 NACLIM www.naclim.eu

  2. Mid-depth circulation in the SPNA OSNAP west 53°N array Mean circulation at 1500 m depth derived from Argo deep displacements (ANDRO atlas, Ollitrault and Rannou., 2013)

  3. Configuration of the 53°N array • Length of the time series allows analysis on a number of time scales • Intra-seasonal • Seasonal • Interannual • Multiannual • All 3 branches of NADW pass the array on their way south (LSW, NEADW, DSOW) • Currently 17 years of ocean top-to-bottom observations • New array (2014-2016) was supplemented with additional instrumentation due to its role in the international OSNAP program

  4. Mean alongshore flow at 53°N Moorings Shipboard [km] [km] • Three flow regimes • Shallow Labrador Current • Deep Western Boundary Current with deep velocity core • Offshore recirculation

  5. Intra-seasonal variability Variance [(cm/s)2] • Dominant variability is found in the week-to-month period range • Caused by topographic waves trapped by steep topography all around the western basins A joint NACLIM / RACE collaborationpaper Fischer et al., 2014

  6. Seasonal variability • Shallow LC: • Varying seasonal amplitudes up to 6 cm/s • Phase lock to winter months • DWBC: • Seasonal amplitudes below 2 cm/s • No phase lock • DWBC tail: • individual years of enhanced seasonal amplitudes • Phase in May/June • Indicating: • No ‘intervening’ frequency between intra-seasonal variability and possible long-term fluctuations/trends • Negligible summer-bias inLADCP mean section Kopte, 2013 (MSc. Thesis)

  7. Long-term warming Potential temperature evolution at LSW level ? K1 – in the central LS • Uniform warming trend in the entire Labrador Sea above 2000 m due to weakened or absent formation and deep convection of LSW until 2009 K9, K8 – at 53°N • Does the warming cause a change in the intensity of circulation and outflow of the DWBC at 53°N? Update from Fischer et al., 2010

  8. DWBC evolution • Summer-to-summer averages of the flow field • White dots: Moored records • Green dots: Best estimate data to terminate Deep Labrador Current properly • Red: Mean position of isopycnals representing water mass boundaries • Indicating: • Gross structure of the flow field is persistent throughout the observational period • Strength of deep core appears to vary interannually

  9. NADW transport time series 400 m LSW 1850 m NEADW 2800 m DSOW • Use isodepths as proxy for isopycnals for transport calculations • During 2003-2007 only central mooring K9 in place: Transport estimate by multiparameter regression • Long-term fluctuations evident in NADW transport

  10. Which layers cause fluctuations? Transports [Sv] Alongshore flow [cm/s] 2001-03, 2010-12 1998-99, 2007-09 Difference • The intermediate LSW layer does not participate in the decadal variability

  11. Decadal fluctuations in the North Atlantic W-Curl DWBC OVIDE OLEANDER • Coherent 9-year fluctuations in DWBC, OVIDE and OLEANDER time series • Phases of shallow fluctuations (OLEANDER and OVIDE) correspond to phase of deep flow (DWBC) within an uncertainty of less than a year • Atmospheric forcing exhibits similar decadal fluctuations in phase with the AMOC components

  12. Outlook --- Fieldwork / Analysis • 17 years of full ocean depth observations make the 53°N DWBC-records increasingly attractive for joint observation/model studies (envisioned) • Contribution to OSNAP: the 53°N array is an important component of the trans-basin observational efforts • Extend NACLIM data base • Joint scientific evaluation of the data in the NACLIM consortium (see CT2 Flash Presentation) C D • Aug. 2014: New array (2014-2016) installed during Thalassa cruise with extended instrumentation • Summer 2016: Next turnaround of the array (ship time already funded) • Optimization of the array

  13. Summary • 15 years (1997-2012) of ocean top-to-bottom observations of the boundary current system at 53°N are investigated with regard to the variability of the alongshore flow and transports on various time scales: Intra-seasonal Seasonal Interannual - Decadal • 9y-fluctuations in Deep Labrador Current • Coherent with decadal fluctuations across Gulf Stream and shallow AMOC, and atmospheric forcing • Decadal fluctuations of same magnitude as proposed centennial AMOC decline • Energetic topographic waves • No significant seasonal cycle in DWBC

  14. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union 7th Framework Programme (FP7 2007-2013), under grant agreement n.308299 NACLIM www.naclim.eu

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