Scientists found warming conditions in the Pacific (El Niño) resulted in low pressure anomalies in the Gulf of Mexico, and high pressure anomalies that extended into the Caribbean Sea from the tropical Atlantic.
New research by scientists at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) shows that changes in temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, called El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), can help predict changes in the Florida Current that occur three months later. Scientists also conclude that ENSO’s influence on the Florida Current affects sea level on the eastern side of the Florida Straits.
“The Florida Current is a critical component of the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC), which plays a substantial role in climate and weather,” said Shenfu Dong, NOAA AOML oceanographer and lead author of the study. “Establishing this strong relationship between the Florida Current and ENSO not only benefits coastal communities for sea level prediction, it could also help us better predict extreme weather events and climate.”
The Florida Current is a strong oceanic current flowing northward along the eastern coast of Florida through the Florida Straits. It carries warm tropical waters that eventually feed the Gulf Stream (seen below). Scientists monitor the Florida Current because it influences weather, climate, and societal issues, including changes in coastal sea level and flooding events. Previous studies have investigated drivers of variability in the Florida Current transport, but it is not yet fully understood.
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Image via NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
