| 1. |
- Chafik, Léon, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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The Faroe‐Shetland Channel Jet : Structure, Variability, and Driving Mechanisms
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans. - 2169-9275 .- 2169-9291. ; 128:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Faroe-Bank Channel (FBC) is a key gateway through which dense overflow water of the Nordic Seas supplies the lower limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Most recently, it was discovered that a deep jet through the Faroe-Shetland Channel carries the bulk of this overflow water, but numerous questions regarding its structure, seasonality, and interannual variability as well as its linkage to atmospheric forcing remain poorly understood. A realistic high-resolution ocean reanalysis (GLORYS12; 1993–2018) is, therefore, employed to address these questions. We first confirm that the Faroe-Shetland Channel Jet is a permanent feature in GLORYS12 as well as in an ensemble of low-resolution reanalyses. On seasonal time scales, we find a strong transport covariability between this deep jet and the observed FBC overflow. On interannual time scales, the strength of this deep jet is governed by the wind-forced circulation in the Nordic Seas. Due to the largely barotropic structure of these flows, they have a signature detectable in satellite sea-surface heights. Further, we suggest that the structure of the deep jet is qualitatively consistent with a geostrophic dynamical model that accounts for along-isobath density variations. This study indicates that GLORYS12 is a promising product to study the dense water pathways and dynamics in the Nordic Seas.
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| 2. |
- Chafik, Léon, et al.
(författare)
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Volume, Heat, and Freshwater Divergences in the Subpolar North Atlantic Suggest the Nordic Seas as Key to the State of the Meridional Overturning Circulation
- 2019
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 46:9, s. 4799-4808
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The meridional overturning circulation (MOC) decreases rapidly in subpolar and Nordic regions where the warm upper layer loses its buoyancy due to intense heat loss, sinks, and flows south. The major volume loss of the upper limb of the MOC, similar to 9.6 Sv out of 18.4 +/- 3.4 Sv, occurs as subduction across the Iceland Basin and Irminger Sea while the major heat loss, 273 TW out of 395 +/- 74 TW is associated with the MOC branch that continues into the Nordic Seas where North Atlantic deep overflow water is produced. The 122 +/- 79 TW heat flux convergence in the subpolar gyre appears to be significantly larger than various estimates of heat loss to the atmosphere. Much of the 0.09 +/- 0.02 Sv freshwater divergence is presumably balanced by runoff from the Greenland shelf. These estimates suggest that the Nordic Seas, not the Labrador Sea, are key to the state of the MOC. Plain language summary The meridional overturning circulation is a two-dimensional view of the flow north of upper-ocean warm water and its return south as cold deep and intermediate water. But the actual pathways of warm-to-cold conversion are several and remarkably diverse: One branch continues into the Nordic Seas where very dense water is produced and eventually spills back into the deep North Atlantic, another branch weaves its way around the entire subpolar basin and the southern tip of Greenland to the Labrador Sea where intermediate water is formed, and the third branch is an overturning that takes place within the subpolar waters between Greenland and Scotland. Volumetrically, this is the largest branch, but in terms of heat loss the Nordic Seas, branch surrenders far more heat to the atmosphere than the other two combined. It thus plays the key role in maintaining a strong meridional overturning circulation.
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| 3. |
- Lee, Craig M., et al.
(författare)
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A Framework for the Development, Design and Implementation of a Sustained Arctic Ocean Observing System
- 2019
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Marine Science. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-7745. ; 6
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rapid Arctic warming drives profound change in the marine environment that have significant socio-economic impacts within the Arctic and beyond, including climate and weather hazards, food security, transportation, infrastructure planning and resource extraction. These concerns drive efforts to understand and predict Arctic environmental change and motivate development of an Arctic Region Component of the Global Ocean Observing System (ARCGOOS) capable of collecting the broad, sustained observations needed to support these endeavors. This paper provides a roadmap for establishing the ARCGOOS. ARCGOOS development must be underpinned by a broadly endorsed framework grounded in high-level policy drivers and the scientific and operational objectives that stem from them. This should be guided by a transparent, internationally accepted governance structure with recognized authority and organizational relationships with the national agencies that ultimately execute network plans. A governance model for ARCGOOS must guide selection of objectives, assess performance and fitness-to-purpose, and advocate for resources. A requirements-based framework for an ARCGOOS begins with the Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs) that underpin the system. SBAs motivate investments and define the system's science and operational objectives. Objectives can then be used to identify key observables and their scope. The domains of planning/policy, strategy, and tactics define scope ranging from decades and basins to focused observing with near real time data delivery. Patterns emerge when this analysis is integrated across an appropriate set of SBAs and science/operational objectives, identifying impactful variables and the scope of the measurements. When weighted for technological readiness and logistical feasibility, this can be used to select Essential ARCGOOS Variables, analogous to Essential Ocean Variables of the Global Ocean Observing System. The Arctic presents distinct needs and challenges, demanding novel observing strategies. Cost, traceability and ability to integrate region-specific knowledge have to be balanced, in an approach that builds on existing and new observing infrastructure. ARCGOOS should benefit from established data infrastructures following the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reuseable Principles to ensure preservation and sharing of data and derived products. Linking to the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) process and involving Arctic stakeholders, for example through liaison with the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), can help ensure success.
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| 4. |
- Rossby, T., et al.
(författare)
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What can Hydrography Tell Us About the Strength of the Nordic Seas MOC Over the Last 70 to 100 Years?
- 2020
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 47:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The flow of warm water into the Nordic Seas plays an important role for the mild climate of central and northern Europe. Here we estimate the stability of this flow thanks to the extensive hydrographic record that dates back to the early 1900s. Using all casts in two areas with little mean flow just south and north of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge that bracket the two main inflow branches, we find a well-defined approximately 0.5 Sv volume transport (and a corresponding 30 TW heat flux) variation in synchrony with the Atlantic multidecadal variability that peaked most recently around 2010 and is now trending down. No evidence is found for a long-term trend in transport over the last 70 to 100 years. Plain Language Summary Society has been much concerned about the possibility of the slow-down of what is popularly known as the Gulf Stream and its transport of warm water to high latitudes of the North Atlantic. Were this to happen it is generally understood that the climate of central and northern Europe would turn distinctly colder. Direct measurements of the warm water flow toward the Nordic Seas and cold water flowing back into the deep North Atlantic show no change over the last couple of decades. To reach further back in time we have considerable information about the hydrographic state of the North Atlantic and Nordic Seas since the early 1900s. By examining the difference in sea level between the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea we find a similar to 70-year variation in volume and heat transport that is clearly associated with the Atlantic multidecadal variation. It peaked most recently around 2010 and is now trending down. We note that the Atlantic multidecadal variation accounts for the observed variations so well we find no evidence for a longer-term increase or decrease in transport.
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