This was the first topic relating to the AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation) that I found, so I posted here. I
found the first article while looking for articles on the AMO.
"Sea levels along north-east coast of the US have risen FOUR INCHES in just two years - as experts warn communities to prepare for 'extreme' events
Waters north of New York rose by record levels between 2009 and 2010. Levels were up by five inches over the same period at Portland, Maine
Researchers are calling the rise an 'unprecedented' one in 850-year event. They warn that coastal areas need to prepare for 'extreme' sea-level rises"
"Researchers believe it was caused by a 30 per cent slowdown in a key ocean current system called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), as well as changes in atmospheric pressure at sea level, the Huffington Post reported.
"
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2970021/Sea-levels-north-east-coast-America-rose-FOUR-INCHES-just-two-years.htmlThe reference to AMOC led me to a paper published in Ocean Science in Feb. 2014.
Abstract. The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation
(AMOC) has been observed continuously at 26? N since
April 2004. The AMOC and its component parts are monitored
by combining a transatlantic array of moored instruments
with submarine-cable-based measurements of the
Gulf Stream and satellite derived Ekman transport. The
time series has recently been extended to October 2012
and the results show a downward trend since 2004. From
April 2008 to March 2012, the AMOC was an average of
2.7 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s?1) weaker than in the first four years
of observation (95 % confidence that the reduction is 0.3 Sv
or more). Ekman transport reduced by about 0.2 Sv and the
Gulf Stream by 0.5 Sv but most of the change (2.0 Sv) is
due to the mid-ocean geostrophic flow. The change of the
mid-ocean geostrophic flow represents a strengthening of the
southward flow above the thermocline. The increased southward
flow of warm waters is balanced by a decrease in the
southward flow of lower North Atlantic deep water below
3000 m. The transport of lower North Atlantic deep water
slowed by 7 % per year (95 % confidence that the rate of
slowing is greater than 2.5 % per year).
www.ocean-sci.net/10/29/2014/os-10-29-2014.pdf