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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.07434 |
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| _version_ | 1866917981902077952 |
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| author | Frajka-Williams, E. Landerer, F. Lee, T. |
| author_facet | Frajka-Williams, E. Landerer, F. Lee, T. |
| contents | \textit{In situ} observations of transbasin deep ocean transports at $26^\circ$N show variability on monthly to decadal timescales (2004--2015). Satellite-based estimates of ocean bottom pressure from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites were previously used to estimate interannual variability of deep ocean transports at $26^\circ$N. Here, we use GRACE ocean bottom pressure, reanalysis winds and \textit{in situ} transport estimates at $26^\circ$N to diagnose the large-scale response of the deep ocean circulation to wind-forcing. We find that deep ocean transports -- including those associated with a reversal of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in 2009/10 and 2010/11 -- are part of a large-scale response to wind stress curl over the intergyre-gyre region. Wind-forcing dominates deep ocean circulation variability on monthly timescales, but interannual fluctuations in the residual \textit{in situ} transports (after removing the wind-effect) are also captured by GRACE bottom pressure measurements. On decadal timescales, uncertainty in regional trends in GRACE ocean bottom pressure preclude investigation of decadal-timescale transport trends. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_07434 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Fast response of deep ocean circulation to mid-latitude winds in the Atlantic Frajka-Williams, E. Landerer, F. Lee, T. Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics \textit{In situ} observations of transbasin deep ocean transports at $26^\circ$N show variability on monthly to decadal timescales (2004--2015). Satellite-based estimates of ocean bottom pressure from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites were previously used to estimate interannual variability of deep ocean transports at $26^\circ$N. Here, we use GRACE ocean bottom pressure, reanalysis winds and \textit{in situ} transport estimates at $26^\circ$N to diagnose the large-scale response of the deep ocean circulation to wind-forcing. We find that deep ocean transports -- including those associated with a reversal of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in 2009/10 and 2010/11 -- are part of a large-scale response to wind stress curl over the intergyre-gyre region. Wind-forcing dominates deep ocean circulation variability on monthly timescales, but interannual fluctuations in the residual \textit{in situ} transports (after removing the wind-effect) are also captured by GRACE bottom pressure measurements. On decadal timescales, uncertainty in regional trends in GRACE ocean bottom pressure preclude investigation of decadal-timescale transport trends. |
| title | Fast response of deep ocean circulation to mid-latitude winds in the Atlantic |
| topic | Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.07434 |