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North Atlantic variability and its links to European climate over the last 3000 years

Moffa-Sánchez, Paola; Hall, Ian R.

Authors

Ian R. Hall



Abstract

The subpolar North Atlantic is a key location for the Earth’s climate system. In the Labrador Sea, intense winter air–sea heat exchange drives the formation of deep waters and the surface circulation of warm waters around the subpolar gyre. This process therefore has the ability to modulate the oceanic northward heat transport. Recent studies reveal decadal variability in the formation of Labrador Sea Water. Yet, crucially, its longer-term history and links with European climate remain limited. Here we present new decadally resolved marine proxy reconstructions, which suggest weakened Labrador Sea Water formation and gyre strength with similar timing to the centennial cold periods recorded in terrestrial climate archives and historical records over the last 3000 years. These new data support that subpolar North Atlantic circulation changes, likely forced by increased southward flow of Arctic waters, contributed to modulating the climate of Europe with important societal impacts as revealed in European history.

Citation

Moffa-Sánchez, P., & Hall, I. R. (2017). North Atlantic variability and its links to European climate over the last 3000 years. Nature Communications, 8(1), Article 1726. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01884-8

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 23, 2017
Online Publication Date Nov 23, 2017
Publication Date 2017-11
Deposit Date Feb 28, 2019
Journal Nature Communications
Electronic ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Research
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 8
Issue 1
Article Number 1726
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01884-8
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1307137