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Title: New observational evidence for a positive cloud feedback that amplifies the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation

Abstract

Abstract The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) affects climate variability in the North Atlantic basin and adjacent continents with potential societal impacts. Previous studies based on model simulations and short‐term satellite retrievals hypothesized an important role for cloud radiative forcing in modulating the persistence of the AMO in the tropics, but this mechanism remains to be tested with long‐term observational records. Here we analyze data sets that span multiple decades and present new observational evidence for a positive feedback between total cloud amount, sea surface temperature (SST), and atmospheric circulation that can strengthen the persistence and amplitude of the tropical branch of the AMO. In addition, we estimate cloud amount feedback from observations and quantify its impact on SST with idealized modeling experiments. From these experiments we conclude that cloud feedbacks can account for 10% to 31% of the observed SST anomalies associated with the AMO over the tropics.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory Columbia University Palisades New York USA
  2. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Miami Florida USA
  3. Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory Columbia University Palisades New York USA, Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics Columbia University New York New York USA
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1402136
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Publisher's Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Geophysical Research Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Volume: 43 Journal Issue: 18; Journal ID: ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Bellomo, Katinka, Clement, Amy C., Murphy, Lisa N., Polvani, Lorenzo M., and Cane, Mark A. New observational evidence for a positive cloud feedback that amplifies the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1002/2016GL069961.
Bellomo, Katinka, Clement, Amy C., Murphy, Lisa N., Polvani, Lorenzo M., & Cane, Mark A. New observational evidence for a positive cloud feedback that amplifies the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069961
Bellomo, Katinka, Clement, Amy C., Murphy, Lisa N., Polvani, Lorenzo M., and Cane, Mark A. 2016. "New observational evidence for a positive cloud feedback that amplifies the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069961.
@article{osti_1402136,
title = {New observational evidence for a positive cloud feedback that amplifies the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation},
author = {Bellomo, Katinka and Clement, Amy C. and Murphy, Lisa N. and Polvani, Lorenzo M. and Cane, Mark A.},
abstractNote = {Abstract The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) affects climate variability in the North Atlantic basin and adjacent continents with potential societal impacts. Previous studies based on model simulations and short‐term satellite retrievals hypothesized an important role for cloud radiative forcing in modulating the persistence of the AMO in the tropics, but this mechanism remains to be tested with long‐term observational records. Here we analyze data sets that span multiple decades and present new observational evidence for a positive feedback between total cloud amount, sea surface temperature (SST), and atmospheric circulation that can strengthen the persistence and amplitude of the tropical branch of the AMO. In addition, we estimate cloud amount feedback from observations and quantify its impact on SST with idealized modeling experiments. From these experiments we conclude that cloud feedbacks can account for 10% to 31% of the observed SST anomalies associated with the AMO over the tropics.},
doi = {10.1002/2016GL069961},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1402136}, journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
issn = {0094-8276},
number = 18,
volume = 43,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record at https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069961

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 36 works
Citation information provided by
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