Recent increases in Arctic freshwater flux affects Labrador Sea convection and Atlantic overturning circulation

Qian Yang (), Timothy H. Dixon, Paul G. Myers, Jennifer Bonin, Don Chambers, M. R. van den Broeke, Mads H. Ribergaard and John Mortensen
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Qian Yang: School of Geosciences, University of South Florida
Timothy H. Dixon: School of Geosciences, University of South Florida
Paul G. Myers: University of Alberta
Jennifer Bonin: College of Marine Science, University of South Florida
Don Chambers: College of Marine Science, University of South Florida
M. R. van den Broeke: Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht, Utrecht University
Mads H. Ribergaard: Danish Meteorological Institute, DK-2100 Copenhagen
John Mortensen: Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is an important component of ocean thermohaline circulation. Melting of Greenland’s ice sheet is freshening the North Atlantic; however, whether the augmented freshwater flux is disrupting the AMOC is unclear. Dense Labrador Sea Water (LSW), formed by winter cooling of saline North Atlantic water and subsequent convection, is a key component of the deep southward return flow of the AMOC. Although LSW formation recently decreased, it also reached historically high values in the mid-1990s, making the connection to the freshwater flux unclear. Here we derive a new estimate of the recent freshwater flux from Greenland using updated GRACE satellite data, present new flux estimates for heat and salt from the North Atlantic into the Labrador Sea and explain recent variations in LSW formation. We suggest that changes in LSW can be directly linked to recent freshening, and suggest a possible link to AMOC weakening.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10525

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