Climate variability and the Atlantic Ocean

Climate models indicate global warming ranging from 1.5°C to 4°C in response to a doubling in greenhouse gases. Whether this warming occurs in 50 years or 100 years is not certain, due in part to our limited understanding of natural climate variability. Apart from its intrinsic merit, the study of natural climate variability is motivated by the societal need to address climate change issues. From this perspective, the interannual to interdecadal time scales are of particular importance. These are precisely the time scales at which coupling to the ocean circulation becomes of paramount significance.