Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Observational Assessment of Nonlocal Heat Flux Feedback in the North Atlantic by GEFA

Na Wen Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster, Ministry of Education, and College of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

Search for other papers by Na Wen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Zhengyu Liu Center for Climate Research, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Search for other papers by Zhengyu Liu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Qinyu Liu Physical Oceanography Laboratory and College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China

Search for other papers by Qinyu Liu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Mar 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-11-0257.1
Page(s):
645–653
Restricted access

Abstract

Most previous studies have proven the local negative heat flux feedback (the surface heat flux response to SST anomalies) in the midlatitude areas. However, it is uncertain whether a nonlocal heat flux feedback can be observed. In this paper, the generalized equilibrium feedback assessment (GEFA) method is employed to examine the full surface turbulent heat flux response to SST in the North Atlantic Ocean using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data. The results not only confirm the dominant local negative feedback, but also indicate a robust nonlocal positive feedback of the Gulf Stream Extension (GSE) SST to the downstream heat flux in the subpolar region. This nonlocal feedback presents a strong seasonality, with response magnitudes of in winter and in summer. Further study indicates that the nonlocal effect is initiated by the adjustments of the downstream surface wind to the GSE SST anomalies.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Na Wen, College of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China. E-mail: wenna@nuist.edu.cn

Abstract

Most previous studies have proven the local negative heat flux feedback (the surface heat flux response to SST anomalies) in the midlatitude areas. However, it is uncertain whether a nonlocal heat flux feedback can be observed. In this paper, the generalized equilibrium feedback assessment (GEFA) method is employed to examine the full surface turbulent heat flux response to SST in the North Atlantic Ocean using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data. The results not only confirm the dominant local negative feedback, but also indicate a robust nonlocal positive feedback of the Gulf Stream Extension (GSE) SST to the downstream heat flux in the subpolar region. This nonlocal feedback presents a strong seasonality, with response magnitudes of in winter and in summer. Further study indicates that the nonlocal effect is initiated by the adjustments of the downstream surface wind to the GSE SST anomalies.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Na Wen, College of Atmospheric Science, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China. E-mail: wenna@nuist.edu.cn
Save
Cover Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

  • Alexander, M. A., I. Bladé, M. Newman, J. R. Lanzante, N. C. Lau, and J. D. Scott, 2002: The atmospheric bridge: The influence of ENSO teleconnections on air–sea interaction over the global oceans. J. Climate, 15, 2205–2231.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cayan, D. R., 1992: Latent and sensible heat flux anomalies over the northern oceans: Driving the sea surface temperature. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 22, 859–881.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ciasto, L. M., and D. W. J. Thompson, 2004: North Atlantic atmosphere–ocean interaction on intraseasonal time scales. J. Climate, 17, 1617–1621.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Czaja, A., and C. Frankignoul, 2002: Observed impact of North Atlantic SST anomalies on the North Atlantic Oscillation. J. Climate, 15, 606–623.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Deser, C., and M. S. Timlin, 1997: Atmosphere–ocean interaction on weekly timescales in the North Atlantic and Pacific. J. Climate, 10, 393–408.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fan, L., Z. Liu, and Q. Liu, 2011: Robust GEFA assessment of climate feedback to SST EOF modes. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 28, 907–912, doi:10.1007/s00376-010-0081-5.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Frankignoul, C., and E. Kestenare, 2002: The surface heat flux feedback. Part I: Estimates from the observations in the Atlantic and the North Pacific. Climate Dyn., 19, 633–647.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Frankignoul, C., and N. Sennechael, 2007: Observed influence of North Pacific SST anomalies on the atmospheric circulation. J. Climate, 20, 592–606.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Frankignoul, C., A. Czaja, and B. L’Heveder, 1998: Air–sea feedback in the North Atlantic and surface boundary conditions for ocean models. J. Climate, 11, 2310–2324.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Frankignoul, C., E. Kestenare, and J. Mignot, 2002: The surface heat flux feedback. Part II: Direct and indirect estimates in the ECHAM4/OPA8 coupled GCM. Climate Dyn., 19, 649–655.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kalnay, E., and Coauthors, 1996: The NCEP/NCAR 40-Year Reanalysis Project. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 437–471.

  • Kelly, K. A., and S. Dong, 2004: The relation of western boundary current heat transport and storage to mid-latitude ocean–atmosphere interaction. Earth’s Climate: The Ocean–Atmosphere Interaction, Geophys. Monogr., Vol. 147, Amer. Geophys. Union, 347–363.

  • Kushnir, Y., and I. M. Held, 1996: Equilibrium atmospheric response to North Atlantic SST anomalies. J. Climate, 9, 1208–1220.

  • Kushnir, Y., W. A. Robinson, I. Bladé, N. M. J. Hall, S. Peng, and R. Sutton, 2002: Atmospheric GCM response to extratropical SST anomalies: Synthesis and evaluation. J. Climate, 15, 2233–2256.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kwon, Y.-O., M. A. Alexander, N. A. Bond, C. Frankignoul, H. Nakamura, B. Qiu, and L. A. Thompson, 2010: Role of the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio–Oyashio systems in large-scale atmosphere–ocean interaction: A review. J. Climate, 23, 3249–3281.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Latif, M., and T. P. Barnett, 1994: Causes of decadal climate variability in the North Pacific/North American sector. Science, 266, 634–637.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lau, N.-C., A. Leetmaa, and M. J. Nath, 2006: Attribution of atmospheric variations in the 1997–2003 period to SST anomalies in the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins. J. Climate, 19, 3607–3628.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Liu, Q., N. Wen, and Z. Liu, 2006: An observational study of the impact of the North Pacific SST on the atmosphere. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L18611, doi:10.1029/2006GL026082.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Liu, Z., and L. Wu, 2004: Atmospheric response to North Pacific SST: The role of ocean–atmosphere coupling. J. Climate, 17, 1859–1882.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Liu, Z., and N. Wen, 2008: On the assessment of nonlocal climate feedback. Part II: EFA-SVD analysis and optimal feedback. J. Climate, 21, 5402–5415.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Liu, Z., N. Wen, and Y. Liu, 2008: On the assessment of nonlocal climate feedback. Part I: The generalized equilibrium feedback analysis. J. Climate, 21, 134–148.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Liu, Z., N. Wen, and L. Fan, 2012a: Assessing atmospheric response to surface forcing in the observation. Part I: Cross validation of annual response using GEFA, LIM, and FDT. J. Climate, 25, 6796–6816.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Liu, Z., L. Fan, S. I. Shin, and Q. Liu, 2012b: Assessing atmospheric response to surface forcing in the observation. Part II: Cross validation of seasonal response using GEFA and LIM. J. Climate, 25, 6817–6834.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Minobe, S., A. Kuwano-Yoshida, N. Komori, S. Xie, and R. J. Small, 2008: Influence of the Gulf Stream on the troposphere. Nature, 452, 206–209.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Nonaka, M., and S. P. Xie, 2003: Covariations of sea surface temperature and wind over the Kuroshio and its extension: Evidence for ocean-to-atmosphere feedback. J. Climate, 16, 1404–1413.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Palmer, T. N., and Z. Sun, 1985: A modeling and observational study of the relationship between sea surface temperature in the north-west Atlantic and the atmospheric general circulation. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 111, 947–975.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Park, S., C. Deser, and M. A. Alexander, 2005: Estimation of the surface heat flux response to sea surface temperature anomalies over the global oceans. J. Climate, 18, 4582–4599.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Peng, S., L. A. Mysak, H. Richtie, J. Derome, and B. Dugas, 1995: The differences between early and midwinter atmospheric responses to sea surface temperature anomalies in the northwest Atlantic. J. Climate, 8, 137–157.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rahmstorf, S., and J. Willebrand, 1995: The role of temperature feedback in stabilizing the thermohaline circulation. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 25, 787–805.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tanimoto, Y., H. Nakamura, T. Kagimoto, and S. Yamane, 2003: An active role of extratropical sea surface temperature anomalies in determining anomalous turbulent heat fluxes. J. Geophys. Res., 108, 3304, doi:10.1029/2002JC001750.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vimont, D. J., D. S. Battisti, and A. C. Hirst, 2001: Footprinting: A seasonal connection between the tropics and midlatitudes. Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 3923–3926.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wen, N., Z. Liu, Q. Liu, and C. Frankignoul, 2005: Observations of SST, heat flux and North Atlantic Ocean–atmosphere interaction. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L24619, doi:10.1029/2005GL024871.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wen, N., Z. Liu, Q. Liu, and C. Frankignoul, 2010: Observed atmospheric responses to global SST variability modes: A unified assessment using GEFA. J. Climate, 23, 1739–1759.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zhong, Y., and Z. Liu, 2008: A joint statistical and dynamical assessment of atmospheric response to North Pacific oceanic variability in CCSM3. J. Climate, 21, 6044–6051.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zhong, Y., Z. Liu, and M. Notaro, 2011: A GEFA assessment of global ocean influence on U.S. hydroclimate variability: Attribution to regional SST variability modes. J. Climate, 24, 693–707.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 141 48 9
PDF Downloads 76 19 2