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Exploring the impact of CMIP5 model biases on the simulation of North Atlantic decadal variability

Menary, M. B., Hodson, D. L. R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7159-6700, Robson, J. I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3467-018X, Sutton, R. T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8345-8583, Wood, R. A. and Hunt, J. A. (2015) Exploring the impact of CMIP5 model biases on the simulation of North Atlantic decadal variability. Geophysical Research Letters, 42 (14). pp. 5926-5934. ISSN 0094-8276

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To link to this item DOI: 10.1002/2015GL064360

Abstract/Summary

Instrumental observations, palaeo-proxies, and climate models suggest significant decadal variability within the North Atlantic subpolar gyre (NASPG). However, a poorly sampled observational record and a diversity of model behaviours mean that the precise nature and mechanisms of this variability are unclear. Here, we analyse an exceptionally large multi-model ensemble of 42 present-generation climate models to test whether NASPG mean state biases systematically affect the representation of decadal variability. Temperature and salinity biases in the Labrador Sea co-vary and influence whether density variability is controlled by temperature or salinity variations. Ocean horizontal resolution is a good predictor of the biases and the location of the dominant dynamical feedbacks within the NASPG. However, we find no link to the spectral characteristics of the variability. Our results suggest that the mean state and mechanisms of variability within the NASPG are not independent. This represents an important caveat for decadal predictions using anomaly-assimilation methods.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > NCAS
Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
ID Code:40632
Publisher:American Geophysical Union

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