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AMOC variability and watermass transformations in the AWI climate model
  • +10
  • Dmitry Sidorenko,
  • S. Danilov,
  • Jan Streffing,
  • Vera Fofonova,
  • Helge Goessling,
  • Qiang Wang,
  • William David CabosNarvaez,
  • Stephan Juricke,
  • Nikolay V. Koldunov,
  • Thomas Rackow,
  • Patrick Scholz,
  • Dimitry Sein,
  • Thomas Jung
Dmitry Sidorenko
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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S. Danilov
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
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Jan Streffing
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
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Vera Fofonova
Unknown
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Helge Goessling
Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
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Qiang Wang
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
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William David CabosNarvaez
University of Alcala
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Stephan Juricke
Jacobs University Bremen
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Nikolay V. Koldunov
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
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Thomas Rackow
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
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Patrick Scholz
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
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Dimitry Sein
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
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Thomas Jung
AWI
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Abstract

Using the depth (z) and density (ϱ) frameworks, we analyze local contributions to AMOC variability in a 900-year simulation with the AWI climate model. Both frameworks reveal a consistent interdecadal variability, however the correlation between their maxima deteriorates on year-to-year scales. We demonstrate the utility of analyzing the spatial patterns of sinking and diapycnal transformations through depth levels and isopycnals. The success of this analysis relies on the spatial binning of these maps which is especially crucial for the maps of vertical velocities which appear to be too noisy in the main regions of up- and downwelling because of stepwise bottom topography. Furthermore, we show that the AMOC responds to fast (annual or faster) fluctuations in atmospheric forcing associated with the NAO. This response is more obvious in the ϱ than in the z framework. In contrast, the link between AMOC deep water production south of Greenland is found for slower fluctuations and is consistent between the frameworks.
Oct 2021Published in Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems volume 13 issue 10. 10.1029/2021MS002582