Oceanic Heat Transport Along the Norwegian Atlantic Slope Current and the Role of Eddies

Abstract The poleward warm Atlantic Water and returning cold water in the Nordic Seas play a crucial role in regulating the Northern Hemisphere climate. While previous studies have recognized the importance of mesoscale dynamics, a quantitative assessment of the role of mesoscale eddies in poleward heat transport is lacking. Our study investigates the role of eddies in poleward oceanic heat transport in the Nordic Seas using an ocean model where eddies are well represented. Using a novel configuration of the MITgcm ocean‐ice model, we analyze 21 years of simulation. We show that eddy heat flux divergence offsets more than 70% of heat flux convergence induced by the mean flow along the Norwegian Atlantic Slope Current. Eddy heat flux divergence peaks at a depth of about 400 m near the thermocline and reaches a maximum near the steep Lofoten Escarpment. A temporal decomposition reveals that eddy heat flux divergence is stable on interannual timescales, although there is strong seasonality. Our study emphasizes the significant role of eddies in reducing poleward heat transport by diverting heat out of the Norwegian Atlantic Current into the Nordic Seas.