Atmospheric and oceanic variability in the northwest Atlantic during the 1980s and early 1990s

Abstract

Air temperatures over Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea were generally cold in contrast to warm conditions along the Middle Atlantic Bight. These are linked to the large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns which produced strong northwest and southwest winds, respectively, over the two regions. The cold air masses and strong northwest winds in the northern regions resulted in more extensive sea ice coverage than normal. Ocean climate variability was influenced not only by local atmospheric forcing but also by the advection of water from upstream.