2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting

February 21-26

The meridional overturning circulation (MOC) in the Atlantic is a key element of the time-variable coupled climate system and may have played a significant role in the subsurface sequestration of heat during the recent global warming hiatus.  The South Atlantic Ocean is unique in its role as a nexus and melting pot for water masses formed elsewhere and transiting between the far regions of the World Ocean. In the past decade, the South Atlantic MOC observing system has expanded to include moored arrays and intense hydrographic surveys, providing tantalizing glimpses of the variability introduced to the MOC. Here, we invite contributions of recent studies quantifying and analyzing South Atlantic MOC (SAMOC) variability over time scales ranging from intra-seasonal to decadal using recently collected in situ observations, remotely sensed data, theory, and numerical modeling. This includes, but is not limited to: an exploration of the local and remote SAMOC forcing mechanisms, analysis of how SAMOC variations relate to inter-ocean exchanges and storage of heat, salt, and nutrients, and an evaluation of the impacts of SAMOC on regional and global climate, extreme weather, and/or marine ecosystems.

• A - Air-sea Interactions and Upper Ocean Processes
• HE - High Latitude Environments
• ME - Marine Ecosystems
• PC - Past, Present and Future Climate