Publication Date:
2019-06-20
Description:
The low-amplitude, large-scale, interannual, and longer-term sea level changes are linked to the variations of ocean heat and freshwater content and strongly controlled by ocean dynamics. Near the coast, especially in low-lying and flood-vulnerable regions, these changes can provide background conditions favorable for the occurrence of extreme sea levels that represent a threat for coastal communities and ecosystems. In this study, we identify a tripole mode of the ocean gyre-scale sea surface height variability in the North Atlantic and show that this mode is responsible for most of the interannual-to-decadal sea surface height changes along the southeast coast of the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico. We also show that these changes are largely driven by the large-scale heat divergence related to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and linked to the low-frequency North Atlantic Oscillation. ©2019. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Print ISSN:
0094-8276
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8007
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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