Sang-Ki Lee
@sklee621.bsky.social
Physical oceanographer at NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami FL. The contents of my posts are mine personally.
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) timeseries at 26.5N was just updated (rapid.ac.uk). It appears that the AMOC has slightly rebounded in 2023 (16.00 Sv) from its minimum in 2022 (15.22 Sv). It is the 7th lowest annual mean AMOC value since 2005. 🌊🧪
September 30, 2025 at 1:02 PM
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) timeseries at 26.5N was just updated (rapid.ac.uk). It appears that the AMOC has slightly rebounded in 2023 (16.00 Sv) from its minimum in 2022 (15.22 Sv). It is the 7th lowest annual mean AMOC value since 2005. 🌊🧪
By using CMIP6 projection, and a coastal hydrodynamic model, a new study found ~ 30cm increase in the coastal sea level along the US Gulf and East Coasts by 2050, which can be translated into an increase in sunny day flooding by 10 days per year. 🌊🧪 agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
September 27, 2025 at 2:29 PM
By using CMIP6 projection, and a coastal hydrodynamic model, a new study found ~ 30cm increase in the coastal sea level along the US Gulf and East Coasts by 2050, which can be translated into an increase in sunny day flooding by 10 days per year. 🌊🧪 agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
A new study carried out dynamic downscaling simulations of CMIP6 models to show that (1) Atlantic TC activity overall decreases in the future, (2) the decrease is mainly in the peak and late seasons (Sep-Nov), (3) early season (May-June) activity increases, & others: 🌊🧪 www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
September 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
A new study carried out dynamic downscaling simulations of CMIP6 models to show that (1) Atlantic TC activity overall decreases in the future, (2) the decrease is mainly in the peak and late seasons (Sep-Nov), (3) early season (May-June) activity increases, & others: 🌊🧪 www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
A high-resolution climate model under a high-emission scenario projects that the formation of Dense Antarctic Shelf Water stops around 2040, shutting down the lower MOC cell, largely due to reduced formation of sea-ice & associated decrease in brine rejection: 🌊🧪 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
September 22, 2025 at 12:00 PM
A high-resolution climate model under a high-emission scenario projects that the formation of Dense Antarctic Shelf Water stops around 2040, shutting down the lower MOC cell, largely due to reduced formation of sea-ice & associated decrease in brine rejection: 🌊🧪 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A new ERL paper shows that winter Atlantic Nina helps El Nino persist beyond winter to early summer, while winter Atlantic Nino promotes El Nino's transition to La Nina: 🌊🧪👍 iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
September 8, 2025 at 11:17 AM
A new ERL paper shows that winter Atlantic Nina helps El Nino persist beyond winter to early summer, while winter Atlantic Nino promotes El Nino's transition to La Nina: 🌊🧪👍 iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
This study-in-review proposed that coastal sea level variability along the South Atlantic Bight & the US Gulf coast is linked to Gulf Stream variability downstream of Cape Hatteras with 2-3 months delay, hinting a potential week-to-month predictability 🌊🧪👍 egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...
August 27, 2025 at 11:33 AM
This study-in-review proposed that coastal sea level variability along the South Atlantic Bight & the US Gulf coast is linked to Gulf Stream variability downstream of Cape Hatteras with 2-3 months delay, hinting a potential week-to-month predictability 🌊🧪👍 egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...
A study used CMIP6 models to report that the surface buoyancy flux into North Atlantic (Bflx) may switch sign from (-) to (+) by 2026 with a 25% & by 2095 with a 57% under a high emission scenario. Bflx > 0 was used as a sign of the AMOC collapse. 🌊🧪 agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
August 26, 2025 at 11:29 AM
A study used CMIP6 models to report that the surface buoyancy flux into North Atlantic (Bflx) may switch sign from (-) to (+) by 2026 with a 25% & by 2095 with a 57% under a high emission scenario. Bflx > 0 was used as a sign of the AMOC collapse. 🌊🧪 agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Atlantic Nina has almost completely dissipated. At the same time, the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific Warm Pools are becoming stronger. These may provide favorable conditions for hurricane development and intensification. A cold wake from the hurricane Erin is also clearly visible. 🌊🧪
August 22, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Atlantic Nina has almost completely dissipated. At the same time, the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific Warm Pools are becoming stronger. These may provide favorable conditions for hurricane development and intensification. A cold wake from the hurricane Erin is also clearly visible. 🌊🧪
This is a nice review paper on inter-basin and inter-mode climate variability. It also discusses how the AMOC can be forced and force tropical variability, such as ENSO, and more: 🌊🧪👍 spj.science.org/doi/10.34133...
August 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
This is a nice review paper on inter-basin and inter-mode climate variability. It also discusses how the AMOC can be forced and force tropical variability, such as ENSO, and more: 🌊🧪👍 spj.science.org/doi/10.34133...
This Nature article argues that the recent declines in Antarctic sea-ice, ice-sheet, abyssal meridional overturning circulation (MOC), and marine species habitats point to a potential abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment: 🌊🧪🥼❄️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 21, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This Nature article argues that the recent declines in Antarctic sea-ice, ice-sheet, abyssal meridional overturning circulation (MOC), and marine species habitats point to a potential abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment: 🌊🧪🥼❄️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Wintertime atmospheric teleconnections in Eurasia driven by North Atlantic SST tripole: 🌊🧪 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
August 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Wintertime atmospheric teleconnections in Eurasia driven by North Atlantic SST tripole: 🌊🧪 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A new study showed that the La Nina-like warming trend in the Pacific led to a weakening of MJO propagation into the central and eastern Pacific. I wish the study included the Atlantic domain given that MJO is important for hurricane development.😥🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1038/s432...
August 18, 2025 at 11:39 AM
A new study showed that the La Nina-like warming trend in the Pacific led to a weakening of MJO propagation into the central and eastern Pacific. I wish the study included the Atlantic domain given that MJO is important for hurricane development.😥🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1038/s432...
During 2002-22, the Antarctic lower stratosphere cooled, a sign of decreasing ozone. A new study showed that this cooling was driven by a slowdown of the atmospheric motion that transports ozone poleward. Removing this effect showed a continued healing of the ozone layer. 🌊🧪👍 doi.org/10.1029/2025...
August 6, 2025 at 11:49 AM
During 2002-22, the Antarctic lower stratosphere cooled, a sign of decreasing ozone. A new study showed that this cooling was driven by a slowdown of the atmospheric motion that transports ozone poleward. Removing this effect showed a continued healing of the ozone layer. 🌊🧪👍 doi.org/10.1029/2025...
During 1982-present, the global tropical cyclone hotpot has shifted from the Northwestern Pacific to the North Atlantic due to the developments of La Nina-like SST trend in the Pacific, and positive AMO-like SST trend in the Atlantic: 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1038/s415...
August 2, 2025 at 11:42 AM
During 1982-present, the global tropical cyclone hotpot has shifted from the Northwestern Pacific to the North Atlantic due to the developments of La Nina-like SST trend in the Pacific, and positive AMO-like SST trend in the Atlantic: 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Another important consequence of the projected (relative) cooling and drying of the tropical North Atlantic (driven by the weakening AMOC) is a suppression of Atlantic hurricane activity 🌊🧪: doi.org/10.1175/2010...
July 31, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Another important consequence of the projected (relative) cooling and drying of the tropical North Atlantic (driven by the weakening AMOC) is a suppression of Atlantic hurricane activity 🌊🧪: doi.org/10.1175/2010...
SH subtropical gyres, aka "the super gyre", has strengthened since the 1950s. It was mainly due to increasing greenhouse gasses while the ozone depletion played a secondary role. The Brazil, East Australian, & Agulhas Currents are key components of the super gyre. 🌊 doi.org/10.1007/s003...
July 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
SH subtropical gyres, aka "the super gyre", has strengthened since the 1950s. It was mainly due to increasing greenhouse gasses while the ozone depletion played a secondary role. The Brazil, East Australian, & Agulhas Currents are key components of the super gyre. 🌊 doi.org/10.1007/s003...
US geo & environmental scientists are the most productive in post-tenure publications! 🌊🧪👏 doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
July 30, 2025 at 11:20 AM
US geo & environmental scientists are the most productive in post-tenure publications! 🌊🧪👏 doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
The 2023-24 El Nino, despite being ranked the 4th strongest since 1979, exhibited an unusually weak teleconnection pattern. A new study showed that warm tropical Indian & Atlantic suppressed tropical Pacific rainfall response to El Nino, and thus was mainly responsible: 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1038/s432...
July 29, 2025 at 11:46 AM
The 2023-24 El Nino, despite being ranked the 4th strongest since 1979, exhibited an unusually weak teleconnection pattern. A new study showed that warm tropical Indian & Atlantic suppressed tropical Pacific rainfall response to El Nino, and thus was mainly responsible: 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1038/s432...
A similar conclusion was presented in this paper, although the focus was more on the shallower mixed layer depth. 🌊🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
July 27, 2025 at 12:56 PM
A similar conclusion was presented in this paper, although the focus was more on the shallower mixed layer depth. 🌊🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The extreme warmth of the North Atlantic in 2023 is largely due to a reduction in low-level cloud cover. This implies decreased atmospheric subsidence followed by a potential low-level cloud & SST positive feedback. 🌊🧪 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
July 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The extreme warmth of the North Atlantic in 2023 is largely due to a reduction in low-level cloud cover. This implies decreased atmospheric subsidence followed by a potential low-level cloud & SST positive feedback. 🌊🧪 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Renellys Perez @motheratsea.bsky.social sent me these plots from NOAA's TAO array, which shows an interesting build up of cold subsurface water in the central equatorial pacific. NOAA's TAO array measurement is what makes ENSO prediction and associated weather & climate prediction possible. 🌊🧪
July 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Renellys Perez @motheratsea.bsky.social sent me these plots from NOAA's TAO array, which shows an interesting build up of cold subsurface water in the central equatorial pacific. NOAA's TAO array measurement is what makes ENSO prediction and associated weather & climate prediction possible. 🌊🧪
Santa Ana winds (SAWs) is a notorious culprit of the most destructive wildfires over Southern California. A new study shows that SAWs may bring more drier air in the future, potentially exacerbating wildfire risks over Southern California. 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1029/2025...
July 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Santa Ana winds (SAWs) is a notorious culprit of the most destructive wildfires over Southern California. A new study shows that SAWs may bring more drier air in the future, potentially exacerbating wildfire risks over Southern California. 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1029/2025...
A new study showed that not resolving Ekman spiral within the upper ocean (~5m) in an eddy-resolving ocean model promotes a spurious Ekman transport of warm offshore waters to the Antarctic coast, limiting dense water formation in the continental shelf. Nice work, Wilton. 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1029/2024...
July 25, 2025 at 11:20 AM
A new study showed that not resolving Ekman spiral within the upper ocean (~5m) in an eddy-resolving ocean model promotes a spurious Ekman transport of warm offshore waters to the Antarctic coast, limiting dense water formation in the continental shelf. Nice work, Wilton. 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1029/2024...
Warm & salty North Atlantic water transport to the Nordic Sea (NS) across the Greenland-Scotland Ridge (GSR) didn't show a slowdown since 1972. Instead, it exhibited multidecadal variability. The NS overflow & AMOC across the GSR also display a similar signal. 🌊🧪👍 doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02557-x
July 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Warm & salty North Atlantic water transport to the Nordic Sea (NS) across the Greenland-Scotland Ridge (GSR) didn't show a slowdown since 1972. Instead, it exhibited multidecadal variability. The NS overflow & AMOC across the GSR also display a similar signal. 🌊🧪👍 doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02557-x
A new study suggests that tropical South Pacific SSH anomalies help increase long-lead time ENSO predictability. The proposed mechanism stems from the delayed-oscillator of Schopf and Suarez, and is also similar to the Atlantic Nino genesis from a Rossby wave reflection. 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1029/2024...
July 24, 2025 at 12:24 PM
A new study suggests that tropical South Pacific SSH anomalies help increase long-lead time ENSO predictability. The proposed mechanism stems from the delayed-oscillator of Schopf and Suarez, and is also similar to the Atlantic Nino genesis from a Rossby wave reflection. 🌊🧪 doi.org/10.1029/2024...