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Plausible Effect of Weather on Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation with a Coupled General Circulation Model

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Abstract

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is a vital component of the global ocean circulation and the heat engine of the climate system. Through the use of a coupled general circulation model, this study examines the role of synoptic systems on the AMOC and presents evidence that internally generated high-frequency, synoptic-scale weather variability in the atmosphere could play a significant role in maintaining the overall strength and variability of the AMOC, thereby affecting climate variability and change. Results of a novel coupling technique show that the strength and variability of the AMOC are greatly reduced once the synoptic weather variability is suppressed in the coupled model. The strength and variability of the AMOC are closely linked to deep convection events at high latitudes, which could be strongly affected by the weather variability. Our results imply that synoptic weather systems are important in driving the AMOC and its variability. Thus, interactions between atmospheric weather variability and AMOC may be an important feedback mechanism of the global climate system and need to be taken into consideration in future climate change studies.

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Acknowledgements

This research is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41276013, 41576004, 41776009 and U1406401). The authors thank Dr. P. Chang and Dr. B. Kirtman for the model data and the constructive discussion during the visit at Texas A&M University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Zedong Liu & Xiuquan Wan

  2. Physical Oceanography Laboratory/CIMST, Ocean University of China and Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Xiuquan Wan

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  1. Zedong Liu
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  2. Xiuquan Wan
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Correspondence to Xiuquan Wan.

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Liu, Z., Wan, X. Plausible Effect of Weather on Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation with a Coupled General Circulation Model. J. Ocean Univ. China 17, 219–226 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-018-3303-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-018-3303-6

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