Vertical Structure of Propagating Features

The inter- and intra-annual variability of the western boundary North Atlantic 26.5 ?N region has been central in the observations of the strength and structure of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Interest in this work began when some recent work estimated the inter-annual fluctuations of the AMOC at 26.5 ?N to be<br/>up to 3 Sv, and with a 25% reduction in strength over the last 50 years. There was increased need to understand both the short and long-term changes in the region and the responsible mechanisms for its variability. With the unique use of RAPID-MOC and MOCHA transatlantic mooring array in combination with satellite altimetry and transatlantic hydrographic observations, we find evidence that a significant amount of the variability can be accounted for by various mechanisms on different time-space scales including propagating features. Here we present simultaneous assimilation of surface and sub-surface observations that shows fresh insights into the contribution of the propagating features in the vertical structure of the temporal-spatial evolution in the western boundary 26.5 ?N Atlantic. There is great prospect in using altimetry observations to reflect and infer the variability throughout the water-column - an effort vital in future interpretations of the AMOC fluctuations using altimetry and numerical models.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Ph.D.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Southampton

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Mujahid, Aazani

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Bryden, Harry