On the midlatitude circulation in a high-resolution model of the North Atlantic

Abstract

This paper describes, and establishes the dynamical mechanisms responsible for, the large-scale, time-mean, midlatitude circulation in a high-resolution model of the North Atlantic basin. The model solution is compared with recently proposed transport schemes and interpretations of the dynamical balances operating in the subtropical gyre. In particular, the question of the degree to which Sverdrup balance holds for the subtropical gyre is addressed. The sensitivity of the model transport amplitudes, patterns, and dynamical balances are estimated by examining the solutions under a range of parameter choices and for four different wind stress forcing specifications. -from Authors