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Zonal Circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean at 52ºW from WOCE-WHP and CLIVAR sections: 1997, 2003 and 2012

Authors

Santana-Toscano,  Daniel
IUGG 2023, General Assemblies, 1 General, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), External Organizations;

Pérez-Hernández,  M. Dolores
IUGG 2023, General Assemblies, 1 General, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), External Organizations;

Macdonald,  Alison
IUGG 2023, General Assemblies, 1 General, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), External Organizations;

Arumí-Planas,  Cristina
IUGG 2023, General Assemblies, 1 General, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), External Organizations;

Caínzos,  Verónica
IUGG 2023, General Assemblies, 1 General, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), External Organizations;

Hernández-Guerra,  Alonso
IUGG 2023, General Assemblies, 1 General, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), External Organizations;

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Citation

Santana-Toscano, D., Pérez-Hernández, M. D., Macdonald, A., Arumí-Planas, C., Caínzos, V., Hernández-Guerra, A. (2023): Zonal Circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean at 52ºW from WOCE-WHP and CLIVAR sections: 1997, 2003 and 2012, XXVIII General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) (Berlin 2023).
https://doi.org/10.57757/IUGG23-2862


Cite as: https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_5019023
Abstract
The A20 line is a meridional hydrographic section located at 52ºW that cuts through the western North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre (NASG). It encloses the main paths of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Using data from three A20 hydrographic cruises carried out in 1997, 2003 and 2012 together with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler data and the velocities from an inverse box model, the circulation of the western NASG is estimated. The Gulf Stream is the main poleward path of the AMOC, carrying 155.3±11.1, 102.7±13.5 and 181.1±14.9 Sv in 1997, 2003 and 2012, respectively (1 Sv = 106 m3/s ~ 109 kg/s). In opposite direction, the Deep Western Boundary Current crosses the section at the northern/southern boundaries with a mass transport of -21.2±8.9/29.0±9.1, -14.4±10.8/14.2±8.1 and -37.9±10.2/44.5±9.8 Sv in 1997, 2003 and 2012, respectively. A net heat exchange from the ocean to the atmosphere is estimated to be -0.7±0.1 PW and -0.6±0.1 PW in 1997 and 2012, respectively, but is negligible in 2003 (0.1±0.1 PW). The freshwater flux is significantly lower in 2003 (0.3±0.1 Sv) than in 1997 (0.6±0.1 Sv) and 2012 (0.6±0.1 Sv). Ocean numerical models such as ECCO, GLORYS and MOM are used to address the interannual variability between the three surveys, but only the GLORYS output roughly agrees with the hydrographic data. GLORYS suggests a heat transport from the ocean to the atmosphere throughout the year and a net freshwater flux supported by precipitation plus river runoff higher than evaporation in all seasons except the spring.