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Decadal variability in an OGCM Southern Ocean: intrinsic modes, forced modes and metastable states
Citation
O'Kane, TJ and Matear, R and Chamberlain, MA and Risby, JS and Sloyan, BM and Horenko, I, Decadal variability in an OGCM Southern Ocean: intrinsic modes, forced modes and metastable states, Ocean Modelling, 69 pp. 1-21. ISSN 1463-5003 (2013) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2013 Crown Copyright
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2013.04.009
Abstract
An ocean general circulation model (OGCM) is used to identify a Southern Ocean southeast Pacific intrinsic
mode of low frequency variability. Using CORE data a comprehensive suite of experiments were carried
out to elucidate excitation and amplification responses of this intrinsic mode to low frequency
forcing (ENSO,SAM) and stochastic forcing due to high frequency winds. Subsurface anomalies were
found to teleconnect the Pacific and Atlantic regions of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) thermocline.
The Pacific region of the ACC is characterised by intrinsic baroclinic disturbances that respond to
both SAM and ENSO, while the Atlantic sector of the ACC is sensitive to higher frequency winds that
act to amplify thermocline anomalies propagating downstream from the Pacific. Non-stationary cluster
analysis was used to identify the system’s dynamical regimes and characterise meta-stability, persistence
and transitions between the respective states. This analysis reveals significant trends, indicating fundamental
changes to the meta-stability of the ocean dynamics in response to changes in atmospheric forcing.
Intrinsic variability in sea-ice concentration was found to be coupled to thermocline processes. Seaice
variability localised in the Atlantic was most closely associated with high frequency weather forcing.
The SAM was associated with a circumpolar sea-ice response whereas ENSO was found to be a major driver
of sea-ice variability only in the Pacific. This simulation study identifies plausible mechanisms that
determine the predictability of the Southern Ocean climate on multi-decadal timescales.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Southern Ocean, decadal variability, cluster analysis |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Oceanography |
| Research Field: | Physical oceanography |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
| Objective Field: | Antarctic and Southern Ocean oceanic processes |
| UTAS Author: | O'Kane, TJ (Dr Terry O'Kane) |
| UTAS Author: | Matear, R (Dr Richard Matear) |
| UTAS Author: | Sloyan, BM (Dr Bernadette Sloyan) |
| ID Code: | 119350 |
| Year Published: | 2013 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 49 |
| Deposited By: | Oceans and Cryosphere |
| Deposited On: | 2017-07-31 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-08-29 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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