Can We Estimate MOC Variability from Surface Density Fluxes Alone?
Simon Josey, Jeremy Grist, Robert Marsh National Oceanography Centre, Southampton A method which employs water mass transformation theory will be used to obtain estimates of variability in the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) at various latitudes in the North Atlantic. The method provides estimates of the surface forced overturning circulation using surface density flux fields from the HadCM3 model and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. The first application of the method was at 48N using 100 years of the HadCM3 control run and new results obtained with a longer 400 year model output interval will be presented, which suggest it can be extended to provide useful estimates of the MOC variability in the range 35 – 65N. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis is used to estimate MOC variability in the mid-high latitude North Atlantic for the past 50 years.
