Predictability of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511617652.014

Chapter 13 - Predictability of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 December 2009

M. Latif ,

H. Pohlmann and

W. Park

Edited by

Tim Palmer and

Renate Hagedorn

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M. Latif: Affiliation:
Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften, Kiel
H. Pohlmann: Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg
W. Park: Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg
Tim Palmer: Affiliation:
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
Renate Hagedorn: Affiliation:
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

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Summary

Sea surface temperature (SST) observations in the North Atlantic indicate the existence of strong multi-decadal variability with unique spatial structure. It is shown by means of a global climate model which does not employ flux adjustments that the multidecadal SST variability is closely related to variations in the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC). The close correspondence between the North Atlantic SST and THC variabilities allows, in conjunction with the dynamical inertia of the THC, for the prediction of the slowly varying component of the North Atlantic climate system. This is shown by classical predictability experiments and greenhouse warming simulations with the global climate model.

Introduction

The North Atlantic thermohaline circulation is an important component of the global climate system. Strong and rapid changes in the THC have been reported from palaeo-climatic records (e.g. Broecker et al., 1985), and a current topic for discussion is whether greenhouse warming may have a serious impact on the stability of THC (e.g. Cubasch et al., 2001). The North Atlantic SST varied on a wide range of timescales during the last century (e.g. Deser and Blackmon, 1993). It has been pointed out (Bjerknes, 1964) that the short-term interannual variations are driven primarily by the atmosphere, while the long-term multidecadal changes may be forced by variations in ocean dynamics. The latter is supported by simulations with coupled ocean–atmosphere models (Delworth et al., 1993; Timmermann et al., 1998; Park and Latif, 2005) which show that variations in the North Atlantic THC are reflected in large-scale SST anomalies.

Type: Chapter
Information: Predictability of Weather and Climate , pp. 342 - 364

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511617652.014 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2006

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