Jan 3, 2014
Atlantic Overturning in decline?
by
,
Nature
- States that continuous monitoring of the AMOC has only been possible since 2004
- Finds that measurements from the RAPID-MOCHA array suggest a recent decline in the AMOC, but at less than a decade this record is still short
- States the direct AMOC measurements from the RAPID-MOCHA array at 26 ◦N exhibit a decline of around –0.5±0.2 Sv yr−1 over the period 2004-12, i.e. a total decline in the AMOC at 26◦N of ∼ 4Sv
- Presents evidence from other observations and a climate model which suggests that this recent measured decline is not merely a short term fluctuation but is part of a substantial reduction in the AMOC occurring on a decadal timescale