Solar arctic-mediated climate variation on multidecadal to centennial timescales : empirical evidence, mechanistic explanation, and testable consequences

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
Soon (2005) showed that the variable total solar irradiance (TSI) could explain, rather surprisingly, well over 75% of the variance for the decadally smoothed Arctic-wide surface air temperature over the past 130 years. This paper provides additional empirical evidence for this physical connection, both through several newly published high-resolution paleo-proxy records and through robust climate-process modeling outputs. The A. proposes a mechanistic explanation, involving : 1) the variable strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) or thermohaline circulation (THC); 2) the shift and modulation of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) rainbelt and tropical Atlantic ocean conditions; and 3) the intensity of the wind-driven subtropical and subpolar gyre circulation, across both the North Atlantic and North Pacific. The mechanism can also be compared and contrasted with 2 other promising Sun-climate connection scenarios via the decadal solar UV and TSI mechanisms reviewed in this paper.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 2009, vol. 30, n°. 2, p. 144-184, nombre de pages : 41, Références bibliographiques : 11 p.

Date :
2009

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis