An experimental study of the Atlantic variability on interdecadal timescales

Abstract

Abstract.A series of laboratory experiments has been carried out to model the basic dynamics of the multidecadal variability observed in North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) records. According to the minimal numerical sector model introduced by te Raa and Dijkstra (2002), the three key components to excite such a low-frequency variability are rotation, meridional temperature gradient and additive thermal noise in the surface heat forcing. If these components are present, periodic perturbations of the overturning background flow are excited, leading to thermal Rossby mode like propagation of anomalous patches in the SST field. Our tabletop scale setup was built to capture this phenomenon, and to test whether the aforementioned three components are indeed sufficient to generate a low-frequency variability in the system. The results are compared to those of the numerical models, as well as to oceanic SST reanalysis records. To the best of our knowledge, the experiment described here is the very first to investigate the dynamics of the North Atlantic multidecadal variability in a laboratory-scale setup.

Concerning the time horizon of prognostic indicators to be beforehand with local climate changes

“…Let the experience accumulated in nonlinear engineering design for efficient-and-safety energy conversion systems be adapted to analyze natural systems of energy conversion. Such problem statement originates from the fundamental principle to use theories and physical methods of research for systems with similar dynamics independently on their nature, for example [26][27][28][29][30]. As a result, the research can be appreciably accelerated since conceptual forms of solutions are already known and it remains to look for their versions appropriate for particular conditions.…”

Evolution and adaptation changes in dynamics of local climate systems in the context of climate-ecosystem equilibrium

“…Dynamical processes are analyzed as it takes place in application to technical systems under similar control. In other words, we follow the opinion that it seems to be promising to attract not only fundamental theories but also practical experience accumulated in engineering in application to similar problems in order to improve researches on natural systems and processes, for example [18][19][20][27][28][29][30]. Surely, particularities of the natural systems should be involved into the consideration to define the operating conditions (Sec.2).…”