A Multivariate AMV Index and Associated Discrepancies Between Observed and CMIP5 Externally Forced AMV

Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) is a multivariate phenomenon. Here for the first time we obtain a multivariate AMV index and associated patterns using Multivariate Empirical Orthogonal Function (MEOF) analysis to explore the multivariate nature of AMV. Coherent multidecadal variability that is unique to the Atlantic is found in the observed MEOF‐extracted AMV, various AMV‐related indices, and an Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation fingerprint. When the signal associated with global mean sea surface temperature is removed from both observations and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) simulations, the residual CMIP5 forced basin‐wide sea surface temperature‐based AMV index disagrees strongly with the observed residual. Only the observed residual basin‐wide sea surface temperature‐based AMV index retains a strong AMV signal. The MEOF approach still extracts a residual CMIP5 forced AMV signal that is unique to the Atlantic, although very different from observations. Our findings suggest that the observed AMV is not dominated by external forcing.

• Publication year

  2019

• Venue

  Geophysical Research Letters

• Publication date

  2019-04-23

• Fields of study

  Physics, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1029/2019GL082787
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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