Zonal distribution of changes in the MOC

Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures Back Close Full Screen / Esc Abstract Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures Back Close Full Screen / Esc Printer-friendly Version Interactive Discussion EGU Abstract Recently, hydrographic measurements have been used to argue that the meridional overturning circulation at 25 • N has decreased by 30% over the last 50 years. Here, we show that the most likely interpretation consistent with this approach (i.e., with the dynamic method together with a level-of-no-motion assumption and Ekman dynam-5 ics), is that any decrease in strength of the deep western boundary current must have been compensated, not by a basin-wide increase in upper layer southward flow, but by changes in the nonlinear region, immediately outside of the Florida Straits.