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GeologyVolume 51, Issue 12, 2023, Pages 1148-1152

Strength of the winter North Atlantic jet stream has deviated from its natural trend under anthropogenic warming(Article)(Open Access)

  • Li, M.,
  • Cai, B.,
  • Marković, S.B.,
  • Wang, L.,
  • Hao, Q.,
  • Baker, A.,
  • Gavrilov, M.B.,
  • Jiang, L.,
  • Wang, F.,
  • Wang, X.,
  • Wang, L.,
  • Ma, Z.,
  • Xiao, J.,
  • Guo, Z.
  • View Correspondence (jump link)
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  • aKey Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
  • bInstitute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
  • cKey Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100092, China
  • dChair of Physical Geography, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia
  • eSerbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Knez Mihajlova 35, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
  • fConnected Waters Initiative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia

Abstract

The North Atlantic jet stream (NAJ) has a profound impact on the climate of the North Atlantic–European sector, especially in winter. Observations show that the winter NAJ (NAJw) has strengthened over the past ∼140 yr. However, it remains unclear whether this long-term trend has deviated from the natural variability. Here, we present a 2500-yr-long reconstruction of NAJw strength using high-quality stalagmite δ18O records from southeastern Europe. Our results show that the NAJw weakened during both the Roman Warm Period (300 B.C.–A.D. 200) and the Medieval Warm Period (A.D. 900–1250) but that it has strengthened under anthropogenic warming (since A.D. 1850). This indicates that its current trend has already deviated from the natural variability. The best explanation for this present anomalous trend of NAJw strength is that it was triggered by the appearance of the North Atlantic warming hole under anthropogenic forcing. This anomalous trend suggests that continued global warming may further strengthen the NAJw in the future. © (2023), (Geological Society of America). All Rights Reserved.

Indexed keywords

Engineering controlled terms:Oceanography
Engineering uncontrolled terms'currentAnthropogenic forcingAnthropogenic warmingHigh qualityJet streamsLong-term trendMedieval Warm PeriodNatural variabilityNorth AtlanticSouth Eastern Europe
Engineering main heading:Global warming
GEOBASE Subject Index:global warmingjet streamtrend analysiswinter
Regional Index:Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean (North)Europe

Funding details

Funding sponsor Funding number Acronym
National Natural Science Foundation of China41888101,41931181,42072213NSFC
Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsF178SASA

  • 1

    We thank the editors and three anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41888101, 41931181, 42072213) and the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (F178).

  • ISSN: 00917613
  • CODEN: GLGYB
  • Source Type: Journal
  • Original language: English
  • DOI: 10.1130/G51329.1
  • Document Type: Article
  • Publisher: Geological Society of America

  Cai, B.; Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China;
© Copyright 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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