The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Simulated and observed decadal variability in ocean heat content

Simulated and observed decadal variability in ocean heat content
Simulated and observed decadal variability in ocean heat content
Previous analyses by Levitus et al. [2000] (“Levitus”) of ocean temperature data have shown that ocean heat content has increased over the last fifty years with substantial temporal variability superimposed. The HadCM3 coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) simulates the Levitus trend if both natural and anthropogenic forcings are included. In the relatively well-observed northern hemisphere upper ocean, HadCM3 has similar temporal variability to Levitus but, like other AOGCMs, it has generally less variability than Levitus for the world ocean. We analyse the causes of this discrepancy, which could result from deficiencies in either the model or the observational dataset. A substantial contribution to the Levitus variability comes from a strong maximum around 500 m depth, absent in HadCM3. We demonstrate a possibly large sensitivity to the method of filling in the observational dataset outside the well-observed region, and advocate caution in using it to assess AOGCM heat content changes.
0094-8276
L15312
Gregory, J.M.
3a9353d5-c9ee-4804-a27d-41a3d0ae99b5
Banks, H.T.
e3720e92-c644-4868-8788-1beb7ea39034
Stott, P.A.
2171ee66-8037-480e-b513-01830bce6dbf
Lowe, J.A.
16f7a8e7-f872-4801-8f57-c305ffb1106d
Palmer, M.D.
0027ef00-b5c7-42e4-910f-70a255c54efd
Gregory, J.M.
3a9353d5-c9ee-4804-a27d-41a3d0ae99b5
Banks, H.T.
e3720e92-c644-4868-8788-1beb7ea39034
Stott, P.A.
2171ee66-8037-480e-b513-01830bce6dbf
Lowe, J.A.
16f7a8e7-f872-4801-8f57-c305ffb1106d
Palmer, M.D.
0027ef00-b5c7-42e4-910f-70a255c54efd

Gregory, J.M., Banks, H.T., Stott, P.A., Lowe, J.A. and Palmer, M.D. (2004) Simulated and observed decadal variability in ocean heat content. Geophysical Research Letters, 31 (15), L15312. (doi:10.1029/2004GL020258).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Previous analyses by Levitus et al. [2000] (“Levitus”) of ocean temperature data have shown that ocean heat content has increased over the last fifty years with substantial temporal variability superimposed. The HadCM3 coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) simulates the Levitus trend if both natural and anthropogenic forcings are included. In the relatively well-observed northern hemisphere upper ocean, HadCM3 has similar temporal variability to Levitus but, like other AOGCMs, it has generally less variability than Levitus for the world ocean. We analyse the causes of this discrepancy, which could result from deficiencies in either the model or the observational dataset. A substantial contribution to the Levitus variability comes from a strong maximum around 500 m depth, absent in HadCM3. We demonstrate a possibly large sensitivity to the method of filling in the observational dataset outside the well-observed region, and advocate caution in using it to assess AOGCM heat content changes.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 2004
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 11080
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/11080
ISSN: 0094-8276
PURE UUID: 87ce9218-8510-4033-8b0b-7cfd11107a4c

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 26 Oct 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 05:02

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: J.M. Gregory
Author: H.T. Banks
Author: P.A. Stott
Author: J.A. Lowe
Author: M.D. Palmer

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×