Researchers at Stockholm University have discovered that temperature and salinity anomalies originating in the midlatitude North Atlantic can influence the Nordic Seas branch of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) up to a decade later. The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, shows that these anomalies are an active component of the system, shaping both the inflow of warm Atlantic water into the Nordic Seas and the return flow of dense water to the deep Atlantic. Using 50 years of hydrographic observations alongside satellite altimetry and current meter records, the team tracked these anomalies northward, revealing their potential for long-term climate prediction. Findings highlight the importance of sustained satellite monitoring and accurate representation of high-latitude ocean processes in climate models.
Source: Stockholm University
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