| 520 |
|
|
|a Climate simulations predict a slowing of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC), a key oceanic component of the climate system, while continuous observations of the MOC from boundary arrays demonstrate substantial variability on weekly- to interannual timescales. These arrays are necessarily limited to individual latitudes. A potential proxy for the MOC, covering longer time-scales and larger spatial scales is desirable. Here, we use sea surface height data from satellites to estimate the interannual variability of transbasin ocean transports at 26°N. Combining this estimate with surface Ekman transport and cable measurements of the Florida Current, we construct a time series of the MOC from 1993-2014. This satellite-based estimate recovers over 90% of the interannual variability of the MOC measured by the RAPID 26°N array. This analysis complements in situ observational efforts to measure the MOC at multiple latitudes, and opens the door to a broader spatial understanding of the Atlantic circulation variability.
|
