Subarctic and Arctic sea surface temperature and its relation to ocean heat content 1982–2010

Abstract

[1] This is an examination of SST variability in the Subarctic and Arctic during the 29 year period 1982-2010, based primarily on data from the Pathfinder AVHRR data set as well as operational SST products from NOAA and the UK Meteorological Office. A goal is to explore the connection between SST variations in the subpolar gyres and SST variations further north, with emphasis on the Nordic Seas because of their atmospheric exposure and connection to the overturning circulation. After identifying and correcting for biases in Pathfinder AVHRR (also present in the operational products) the seasonal cycle and 29-year warming trend is described. The analysis shows that much of the warming of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre during the period occurred in 1990s and compensated for cooling during the decades of the early 1960s to mid-1990s in this same region. Superimposed on this warming trend the analysis reveals a succession of residual SST anomalies with 0.5 C amplitudes that seem to move out of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre into the Nordic Seas following the North Atlantic and Norwegian Currents. Within the Nordic Seas these SST anomalies slowly advect in a counterclockwise direction. After approximately six years part of the anomalies exits the Nordic Seas through the East Greenland Current. The connection between these SST anomalies and underlying anomalies of 0/300 m heat content is discussed. The existence of these SST anomalies and their origin at lower latitudes highlights the importance of ocean exchanges in influencing Arctic climate.Citation: Chepurin, G. A., and J. A. Carton (2012), Subarctic and Arctic sea surface temperature and its relation to ocean heat content

Changes in distribution of calcareous benthic foraminifera in the central Barents Sea between the periods 1965–1992 and 2005–2006

“…Warming of the Arctic regions becomes apparent in an expanding number of ways, and has been increasing in recent decades (Overpeck et al, 1997;Morison et al, 2000;Comiso, 2006;Screen and Simmonds, 2010;Carton et al, 2011;Årthun et al, 2012;Chepurin and Carton, 2012). The Barents Sea experiences these changes too; in some aspects, such as sea ice decrease , absorbed solar radiation increase (Stroeve et al, 2012) and spring warming (Rigor et al, 2000), the effects felt here are above average.…”

On the flow of Atlantic water and temperature anomalies in the Nordic Seas toward the Arctic Ocean

“…The heat content of Atlantic water in the Nordic Seas varies over seasonal to decadal timescales [Yashayaev and Seidov, 2015;Mork et al, 2014;Chepurin and Carton, 2012;Carton et al, 2011;Furevik, 2001]. The cause of this variability has been linked to both air-sea heat fluxes and advective processes.…”

Variability along the Atlantic water pathway in the forced Norwegian Earth System Model

“…On the other hand, we have tested the results with winter SST, which represents a deep mixed layer during winter, e.g., winter SST has been shown in previous studies to reflect the heat content in the mixed layer (Chepurin and Carton 2012).…”

“…Warm and cold anomalies occurring along the pathway of the North Atlantic Current are brought northwards and eventually into the Nordic Seas (Chepurin and Carton 2012;Holliday et al 2008;Yashayaev and Seidov 2015). How such anomalous heat is formed and expressed on its way northward is still not fully understood (e.g., Krahmann et al 2001;Årthun and Eldevik 2016).…”