Regional Variation in Extratropical North Atlantic Air‐Sea Interaction 1960–2020

Abstract

Abstract Air‐sea interaction in late boreal winter is studied over the extratropical North Atlantic (NA) during 1960–2020 by examining the relationship between sea‐surface temperature (SST) and total turbulent heat flux (THF). The two quantities are positively correlated on interannual timescales over the central‐midlatitude and subpolar NA, suggesting the atmosphere on average drives SST and THF variability is independent of SST. On decadal timescales and over the central‐midlatitude NA the correlation is negative, suggesting ocean processes on average drive SST and THF variability is sensitive to SST. The correlation is positive over the subpolar NA. There, interannual and decadal THF variability is governed by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). During the major late 20th and early 21st century SST increase in the subpolar NA diminishing oceanic heat loss associated with a weakening NAO was observed. This study suggests that the atmosphere is more sensitive to SST over the central‐midlatitude than subpolar NA.

Keywords

• North Atlantic air‐sea interaction
• SST‐heat flux relationship
• timescale dependence over the midlatitude NA
• atmospheric sensitivity to SST