Multiyear variability in the near‐surface temperature structure of the midlatitude western North Atlantic Ocean

Molinari, Robert L.; Mayer, Dennis A.; Festa, John F.; Bezdek, H. F.

doi:10.1029/96jc03544

Cited by 78 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The NAO represents an oscillation in the sea level pressure between the Iceland Low (about 65°N) and the Azores High (approximately 40°N) (Hurrell, 1995). A multitude of studies have found the NAO to be linked to climatic and oceanographic variables in the North Atlantic, Europe and North America (Rogers, 1990;Wallace et al, 1995;Hurrell, 1996;Reverdin et al, 1997;Molinari et al, 1997;Ulbrich et al, 1999). More recently, studies have found the NAO to influence subtropical and tropical locations such as the Canary Islands (Herrera et al, 2001), Barbados (Charlery et al, 2006), and the Caribbean (Ashby et al, 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variability of the Caribbean mid-summer drought and relation to north Atlantic high circulation

2008

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Annual rainfall in the Caribbean exhibits a bimodal structure with two rainfall maxima (May-June and September-October) separated by what has been termed a mid-summer drought (MSD) (July-August). Despite general acceptance of the intensification and expansion of the North Atlantic High Pressure (NAHP) as the cause of the Caribbean MSD, it has been noted in several studies that the influence of the NAHP may not be consistent across the region. The purpose of this research is to better understand the Caribbean MSD by mapping the spatial co-variability of the Caribbean MSD and then determining the association between these spatial patterns and NAHP circulation. The spatial variability of the Caribbean MSD is identified through mapping of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) loadings of Caribbean MSD season rainfall time series. A correlation analysis was completed between monthly MSD region rainfall time series and measures of the NAHP to assess the degree of association between the spatial variability in the Caribbean MSD and NAHP circulation. The PCA identified six MSD regions, the northwestern Caribbean, the interior Caribbean, the eastern rim Caribbean, Coro Venezuela, Grantley Barbados, and a transition zone. The spatial pattern of the MSD regions suggests that the NAHP impacts the eastern Caribbean first and then progresses westward as the summer develops. In regard to the association between NAHP circulation and MSD region precipitation time series, correlation analysis indicates that overall, a modified Bermuda High Index (BHI) is a more effective tool in evaluating the association between the NAHP and Caribbean MSD as compared to the traditional indices, NAO EOF and BHI. Lagged correlations support previous findings that the winter preceding a particularly dry summer in the Caribbean is characterized by a strong pressure gradient on the southeastern flank of the NAHP; implying stronger Trade Winds, cooler sea surface temperatures, and reduced convective rainfall.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variability of the Caribbean mid-summer drought and relation to north Atlantic high circulation

2008

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“…Variability in the temperature of the upper subtropical ocean has also been linked with fluctuations in the NAO index (Molinari et al, 1997). Curry and McCartney (2001) discuss observed interannual to interdecadal variations in the intensity of ocean gyres and relate them to NAO forcings.…”

Section: Temporal Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

North Atlantic climate variability: phenomena, impacts and mechanisms

Marshall¹,

Kushnir²,

Battisti³

et al. 2001

Intl Journal of Climatology

903

724

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“…Whilst the NAO is an atmospheric phenomenon, its variability is reflected in wintertime SSTs of the mid-to high-latitude North Atlantic, on interannual through multidecadal timescales ( Fig. 1) (Bjerknes 1964, Molinari et al 1997, Visbeck et al 2001. The position of Bermuda (64°W, 32°N) in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre is well suited to index SST variability associated with NAO.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How brain corals record climate: an integration of skeletal structure, growth and chemistry of Diploria labyrinthiformis from Bermuda

Cohen

Smith²,

McCartney³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The aragonite skeleton of massive reef-building corals contains a record of the oceanic environment in which they grow. However, reading of the record requires understanding of how it is archived, a process complicated by the elaborate skeletal construction and seasonal growth patterns that characterize many species. In this study, we assess the utility of the massive brain coral Diploria labyrinthiformis as an archive of sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the western North Atlantic. In situ staining of live colonies combined with microscale analysis of skeletal chemistry indicate that D. labyrinthiformis grows throughout the year on Bermuda and records the full annual cycle of SST variability. However, skeleton accreted during the summer is overlain (thickened) by skeleton accreted during the subsequent fall and winter. As a result, conventional coarse sampling for δ 18 O enables seasonal δ 18 O cycles to be resolved but these do not capture the full amplitude of the annual SST cycle. Our data show that the shallow gradient of the δ 18 O-SST regression equation derived for D. labyrinthiformis (-0.113 ‰ ºC -1 ) relative to the expected -0.22 ‰ ºC -1 for marine skeletons results from dampening of the summertime peak in δ 18 O. In contrast, skeleton accreted during the winter is not thickened and wintertime δ 18 O captures the interannual wintertime SST variability at this site. Using SIMS ion microprobe to analyse strontium to calcium ratios (Sr/Ca), we avoided the thickening deposits and were able to resolve the full amplitude of the annual Sr/Ca cycle. The Sr/Ca-SST relationship obtained for D. labyrinthiformis (-0.0843 mmol/mol ºC -1 ) corresponds to that derived from fast-growing tropical reef corals. X-ray intensity ratios, used as a proxy for skeletal density, reveal the expected seasonal changes associated with growth banding as well as variability on interannual and decadal timescales. These variations are well correlated with wintertime SST variability in the subtropical gyre and may be a valuable proxy thermometer for the North Atlantic.

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Multiyear variability in the near‐surface temperature structure of the midlatitude western North Atlantic Ocean

Cited by 78 publications

References 10 publications

Spatial variability of the Caribbean mid-summer drought and relation to north Atlantic high circulation

Spatial variability of the Caribbean mid-summer drought and relation to north Atlantic high circulation

North Atlantic climate variability: phenomena, impacts and mechanisms

How brain corals record climate: an integration of skeletal structure, growth and chemistry of Diploria labyrinthiformis from Bermuda

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