The accuracy of estimates of the overturning circulation from basin-wide mooring arrays
The accuracy of estimates of the overturning circulation from basin-wide mooring arrays
Previous modeling and observational studies have established that it is possible to accurately monitor the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) at 26.5°N using a coast-to-coast array of instrumented moorings supplemented by direct transport measurements in key boundary regions (the RAPID/MOCHA/WBTS Array). The main sources of observational and structural errors have been identified in a variety of individual studies. Here a unified framework for identifying and quantifying structural errors associated with the RAPID array-based AMOC estimates is established using a high-resolution (eddy resolving at low-mid latitudes, eddy permitting elsewhere) ocean general circulation model, which simulates the ocean state between 1978-2010. We define a virtual RAPID array in the model in close analogy to the real RAPID array and compare the AMOC estimate from the virtual array with the true model AMOC. The model analysis suggests that the RAPID method underestimates the mean AMOC by ∼1.5 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s-1) at ∼900m depth, however it captures the variability to high accuracy. We examine three major contributions to the streamfunction bias: (i) due to the assumption of a single fixed reference level for calculation of geostrophic transports, (ii) due to regions not sampled by the array and (iii) due to ageostrophic transport. A key element in (i) and (iii) is use of the model sea surface height to establish the true (or absolute) geostrophic transport. In the upper 2000m, we find that the reference level bias is strongest and most variable in time, whereas the bias due to unsampled regions is largest below 3000m. The ageostrophic transport is significant in the upper 1000m but shows very little variability. The results establish, for the first time, the uncertainty of the AMOC estimate due to the combined structural errors in the measurement design and suggest ways in which the error could be reduced. Our work has applications to basin-wide circulation measurement arrays at other latitudes and in other basins as well as quantifying systematic errors in ocean model estimates of the AMOC at 26.5°N.
101-123
Sinha, B.
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Smeed, D.A.
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McCarthy, G.D.
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Moat, B.I.
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Josey, S.A.
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Hirschi, J.J.-M.
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Frajka-Williams, E.
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Blaker, A.T.
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Rayner, D.
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Madec, G.
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1 January 2018
Sinha, B.
544b5a07-3d74-464b-9470-a68c69bd722e
Smeed, D.A.
704615ce-822d-4649-b59f-07c804ead99c
McCarthy, G.D.
99241bcb-5667-469d-b7ae-4d308d516bd6
Moat, B.I.
497dbb18-a98f-466b-b459-aa2c872ad2dc
Josey, S.A.
2252ab7f-5cd2-49fd-a951-aece44553d93
Hirschi, J.J.-M.
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Frajka-Williams, E.
da86044e-0f68-4cc9-8f60-7fdbc4dc19cb
Blaker, A.T.
94efe8b2-c744-4e90-87d7-db19ffa41200
Rayner, D.
60eaf35c-c54e-447b-8551-efc08637d122
Madec, G.
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Sinha, B., Smeed, D.A., McCarthy, G.D., Moat, B.I., Josey, S.A., Hirschi, J.J.-M., Frajka-Williams, E., Blaker, A.T., Rayner, D. and Madec, G.
(2018)
The accuracy of estimates of the overturning circulation from basin-wide mooring arrays.
Progress in Oceanography, 160, .
(doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2017.12.001).
Abstract
Previous modeling and observational studies have established that it is possible to accurately monitor the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) at 26.5°N using a coast-to-coast array of instrumented moorings supplemented by direct transport measurements in key boundary regions (the RAPID/MOCHA/WBTS Array). The main sources of observational and structural errors have been identified in a variety of individual studies. Here a unified framework for identifying and quantifying structural errors associated with the RAPID array-based AMOC estimates is established using a high-resolution (eddy resolving at low-mid latitudes, eddy permitting elsewhere) ocean general circulation model, which simulates the ocean state between 1978-2010. We define a virtual RAPID array in the model in close analogy to the real RAPID array and compare the AMOC estimate from the virtual array with the true model AMOC. The model analysis suggests that the RAPID method underestimates the mean AMOC by ∼1.5 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s-1) at ∼900m depth, however it captures the variability to high accuracy. We examine three major contributions to the streamfunction bias: (i) due to the assumption of a single fixed reference level for calculation of geostrophic transports, (ii) due to regions not sampled by the array and (iii) due to ageostrophic transport. A key element in (i) and (iii) is use of the model sea surface height to establish the true (or absolute) geostrophic transport. In the upper 2000m, we find that the reference level bias is strongest and most variable in time, whereas the bias due to unsampled regions is largest below 3000m. The ageostrophic transport is significant in the upper 1000m but shows very little variability. The results establish, for the first time, the uncertainty of the AMOC estimate due to the combined structural errors in the measurement design and suggest ways in which the error could be reduced. Our work has applications to basin-wide circulation measurement arrays at other latitudes and in other basins as well as quantifying systematic errors in ocean model estimates of the AMOC at 26.5°N.
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Accepted/In Press date: 4 December 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 6 December 2017
Published date: 1 January 2018
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Local EPrints ID: 416134
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/416134
ISSN: 0079-6611
PURE UUID: 7c58bc3d-2dfe-4219-af89-6e364791eda7
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Date deposited: 06 Dec 2017 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 06:00
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Contributors
Author:
B. Sinha
Author:
D.A. Smeed
Author:
G.D. McCarthy
Author:
B.I. Moat
Author:
S.A. Josey
Author:
J.J.-M. Hirschi
Author:
E. Frajka-Williams
Author:
A.T. Blaker
Author:
D. Rayner
Author:
G. Madec
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