Nature Communications (Jan 2016)

Recent increases in Arctic freshwater flux affects Labrador Sea convection and Atlantic overturning circulation

  • Qian Yang,
  • Timothy H. Dixon,
  • Paul G. Myers,
  • Jennifer Bonin,
  • Don Chambers,
  • M. R. van den Broeke,
  • Mads H. Ribergaard,
  • John Mortensen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10525
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Labrador Sea convection and the Atlantic overturning circulation are sensitive to surface freshening of the North Atlantic. Here, the authors show that the recent increases in Arctic freshwater flux can directly weaken Labrador Sea convection and potentially affect the overturning circulation.