Atlantic meridional overturning circulation

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is a system of currents that carries warm surface water northward and returns colder, denser water southward at depth. It links tropical heat transport to deep-water formation in the North Atlantic.

North Atlantic Deep Water: A mass of cold, relatively saline water formed in the North Atlantic that spreads through the deep ocean. Its formation supplies much of the circulation’s southward-flowing deep limb.
Gulf Stream: A strong western boundary current that carries warm water northward along the eastern coast of North America. It is a prominent part of the upper-ocean flow associated with the overturning.
RAPID-MOCHA array: A moored observing system across the Atlantic near 26.5°N that estimates overturning transport. Its repeated measurements provide a direct record of circulation variability at one latitude.
European climate: The climate patterns and conditions across Europe, shaped by atmospheric and oceanic processes. Northward ocean heat transport influences the regional climate, alongside stronger atmospheric factors.
AMOC tipping point: A hypothesized threshold beyond which Atlantic overturning could shift rapidly to a much weaker state. Research asks whether gradual forcing could trigger an abrupt circulation transition.
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) transport: The volume of water carried by the Atlantic overturning circulation, commonly measured in sverdrups. Transport measurements quantify the circulation’s strength at particular latitudes and depths.
North Atlantic Current: A current system that carries relatively warm water northeastward from the North Atlantic toward the Nordic Seas. It extends northward heat transport beyond the Gulf Stream’s path.
OSNAP: The Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program, an observing array spanning the subpolar North Atlantic. It measures overturning and water-mass transformation farther north than RAPID.
Atlantic sea level: The height of the Atlantic Ocean relative to land, varying with circulation, winds, and other factors. A weaker overturning can raise dynamic sea level along parts of the North American coast.
Greenland ice sheet: A vast body of land ice covering Greenland. Its meltwater is one possible source of freshening near North Atlantic deep-water formation regions.

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