Subtropical Atlantic Climate Studies: Introduction

Molinari, Robert L.; Maul, George A.; Chew, Frank; Wilson, W. Douglas; Busheell, Mark; Mayer, Dennis A.; Leaman, Kevin D.; Schott, Friedrich; Lee, Tom; Zantopp, Rainer J.; Larsen, Jimmy C.; Sanford, Thomas B.

doi:10.1126/science.227.4684.292

Cited by 39 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…An intensive study of the Florida Current made during the STACS program by a variety of measuring techniques had provided some information on the structure of variability in the Florida Straits (e.g. Molinari et al, 1985;Leaman et al, 1987;Schott et al, 1988), however the relatively short time scale of the STACS observations (a few years) made it 854 C. P. Atkinson et al: Atlantic transport variability at 26 • N difficult to resolve variability on the sub-annual to interannual periods of interest here.…”

Section: Emergence Of the Florida Straits Seasonal Transport Cycle Frmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mass transport through the Florida Straits has been almost continuously measured since April 1982 using a succession of submerged telephone cables located between 26 • N-27 • N (Larsen, 1992;Baringer and Larsen, 2001;Meinen et al, 2010). These observations began during the Sub Tropical Atlantic Climate Studies (STACS) program which ran from 1982-1984 and used a variety of measurement techniques to study the Florida Current (Molinari et al, 1985). Amongst many other results, STACS revealed that Florida Straits transport variability has a near continuous power spectrum and an apparent asymmetric seasonal cycle with a range of several Sverdrups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On the seasonal cycles and variability of Florida Straits, Ekman and Sverdrup transports at 26° N in the Atlantic Ocean

et al. 2010

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Abstract.Since April 2004 the RAPID array has made continuous measurements of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) at 26 • N. Two key components of this system are Ekman transport zonally integrated across 26 • N and western boundary current transport in the Florida Straits. Whilst measurements of the AMOC as a whole are somewhat in their infancy, this study investigates what useful information can be extracted on the variability of the Ekman and Florida Straits transports using the decadal timeseries already available. Analysis is also presented for Sverdrup transports zonally integrated across 26 • N.The seasonal cycles of Florida Straits, Ekman and Sverdrup transports are quantified at 26 • N using harmonic analysis of annual and semi-annual constituents. Whilst Sverdrup transport shows clear semi-annual periodicity, calculations of seasonal Florida Straits and Ekman transports show substantial interannual variability due to contamination by variability at non-seasonal frequencies; the mean seasonal cycle for these transports only emerges from decadal length observations. The Florida Straits and Ekman mean seasonal cycles project on the AMOC with a combined peak-to-peak seasonal range of 3.5 Sv. The combined seasonal range for heat transport is 0.40 PW.The Florida Straits seasonal cycle possesses a smooth annual periodicity in contrast with previous studies suggesting a more asymmetric structure. No clear evidence is found to support significant changes in the Florida Straits seasonal cycle at sub-decadal periods. Whilst evidence of wind driven Florida Straits transport variability is seen at sub-seasonal and annual periods, a model run from the 1/4 • Correspondence to: C. P. Atkinson (christopher.atkinson@noc.soton.ac.uk) eddy-permitting ocean model NEMO is used to identify an important contribution from internal oceanic variability at sub-annual and interannual periods. The Ekman transport seasonal cycle possesses less symmetric structure, due in part to different seasonal transport regimes east and west of 50 to 60 • W. Around 60% of non-seasonal Ekman transport variability occurs in phase section-wide at 26 • N and is related to the NAO, whilst Sverdrup transport variability is more difficult to decompose.

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Section: Emergence Of the Florida Straits Seasonal Transport Cycle Frmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the seasonal cycles and variability of Florida Straits, Ekman and Sverdrup transports at 26° N in the Atlantic Ocean

et al. 2010

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“…[5] The Subtropical Atlantic Climate Studies program (STACS) [Molinari et al, 1985a] involved repeated sections across the Florida Current between 1982 and 1984. Vertical profiles of velocity and temperature were obtained using the free-falling acoustically tracked ''Pegasus'' profiler at 9 stations (Figure 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A continuous record of Florida Current temperature transport at 27°N

Shoosmith

Baringer

Johns

2005

Geophysical Research Letters

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[1] As part of a newly funded international program to monitor ocean heat transport at mid-latitudes in the North Atlantic, a continuous estimate of the temperature transport of the Florida Current is required. Since 1982, volume transports have been inferred from voltage measurements monitored by submarine telephone cables across the Straits of Florida. Electromagnetic induction theory suggests that the cable voltage should actually give a more direct measure of conductivity transport than pure volume transport. Due to the strong dependence of conductivity on temperature, this would in theory result in a direct and continuous estimate of the Florida Current temperature transport. This hypothesis is investigated using data from a large number of temperature and velocity sections (58) across the Florida Current at the cable location, leading to a new calibration of the voltage signal for the temperature transport of the Florida Current, crucial for trans-basin heat flux estimates.

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“…The Subtropical Atlantic Climate Studies (STACS) Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is directed at increased understanding of the dynamics of the circulation of the subtropical North Atlantic and the role this circulation plays in modifying global atmospheric climate, as well as the development of sampling strategies to monitor operationally the climatically important oceanic phenomena [Molinari, 1986]. Initially, STACS efforts were directed at the Florida Current at 27øN [Molinari et al, 1985;Molinari, 1986]. A submarine communications cable is now being used operationally to monitor Florida Current transport [Larsen, 1987].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed and modeled annual cycle of transport in the Straits of Florida and east of Abaco Island, the Bahamas (26.5°N)

Rosenfeld¹,

Molinari²,

Leaman³

1989

J. Geophys. Res.

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Direct velocity observations were collected with a free‐fall acoustic velocity profiler along an east‐west section extending 65 km offshore of Abaco Island, the Bahamas (26.5°N). The section, which includes five stations, was occupied 14 times between September 1984 and September 1987. The two inshore stations were located on the continental slope, and the three offshore stations were located over the abyssal plain (at depths approaching 4700 m). The average total section transport between the surface and 2500 m (the portion of the water column best sampled) was 10 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3/s) to the south. The range of transports is 40 Sv with maximum northward transport observed during April 1985 (5.3 Sv) and maximum southward transport observed during April 1986 (34.8 Sv). The average flow above 800–900 m is to the north at the four westernmost stations and is to the south below 800–900 m and over most of the easternmost station. The southward flow includes the Deep Western Boundary Current. Strong vertical shears extend to 1100 m. An approximation for the upper layer (above 1100 m) baroclinic transport has a mean of 12.2 Sv to the north and a range of 15 Sv. Results from a two‐layer and a one‐and‐a‐half‐layer wind‐driven model are compared with the annual cycles of total and upper layer transport, as determined from the observations. The barotropic transport from the two‐layer model has a range of the order of ±10 Sv, with a winter maximum and fall minimum. The range of the baroclinic transport from the one‐and‐a‐half‐layer model is an order of magnitude smaller and of opposite sign. Although there are similarities between the observations and the results of both models, the small signal‐to‐noise ratio precludes definitive confirmation of the annual cycle. The situation east of the Bahamas, where the two models give very different predictions, is compared with the Straits of Florida, where both models predict an annual cycle similar to that observed for the total transport. The roles played by topography and local and remote wind forcing in producing these results are discussed.

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Subtropical Atlantic Climate Studies: Introduction

Cited by 39 publications

References 14 publications

On the seasonal cycles and variability of Florida Straits, Ekman and Sverdrup transports at 26° N in the Atlantic Ocean

On the seasonal cycles and variability of Florida Straits, Ekman and Sverdrup transports at 26° N in the Atlantic Ocean

A continuous record of Florida Current temperature transport at 27°N

Observed and modeled annual cycle of transport in the Straits of Florida and east of Abaco Island, the Bahamas (26.5°N)

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