Impact of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation on the decadal variability of the Gulf Stream path and regional chlorophyll and nutrient concentrations

In this study, we show that the underlying physical driver for the decadal variability in the Gulf Stream (GS) path and the regional biogeochemical cycling is linked to the low frequency variability in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). There is a significant anticorrelation bet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2015-11, Vol.42 (22), p.9889-9887
Main Authors: Sanchez‐Franks, A., Zhang, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AMOC
biogeochemical cycle
Biogeochemical cycles
Biogeochemistry
Brackish
Chlorophyll
Chlorophylls
Circulation
Coastal environments
Coherence
Gulf Stream
Marine
Nutrient concentrations
Nutrients
Ocean circulation
Regional
Time
Water circulation
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Summary:In this study, we show that the underlying physical driver for the decadal variability in the Gulf Stream (GS) path and the regional biogeochemical cycling is linked to the low frequency variability in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). There is a significant anticorrelation between AMOC variations and the meridional shifts of the GS path at decadal time scale in both observations and two Earth system models (ESMs). The chlorophyll and nutrient concentrations in the GS region are found significantly correlated with the AMOC fingerprint and anticorrelated with the GS path at decadal time scale through coherent isopycnal changes in the GS front in the ESMs. Our results illustrate how changes in the large‐scale ocean circulation, such as AMOC, are teleconnected with regional decadal physical and biogeochemical variations near the North American east coast. Such linkages are useful for predicting future physical and biogeochemical variations in this region. Key Points An enhanced AMOC leads to a southward shift and steepened isopycnals in the GS Nutrient reservoirs in the GS region move along with the steepened isopycnals Biogeochemical variability in the GS region is linked to the GS path and AMOC
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1002/2015GL066262