Structure and Variability of the Meridional Overturning Circulation in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre, 2007–2017

The vertical structure and interannual and long-term variability of the meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is analyzed. A close relationship between deep winter convection in the Irminger Sea and the MOC intensity is shown. The revealed significant correlation between the winter North Atlantic Oscillation Index and the summer MOC shifted by 3.5 years argues for an atmospheric circulation effect on the variability of the oceanic meridional heat flow.