My research focuses on obtaining a more robust understanding of past variability and future change in North Atlantic and Nordic Seas circulation. I use a combination of ocean reanalyses, climate models, observations, and Lagrangian trajectory modeling to study the dynamics of the extended Gulf Stream system and the AMOC, and its relationship to poleward heat transport.     

Interview

• Asbjørnsen, Helene; Kjørstad, Elise (2025). Mens verden blir varmere, har en mystisk flekk i Atlanterhavet blitt kaldere. (external link)
• Elise, Kjørstad; Asbjørnsen, Helene (2025). Ikke like nær et vippe­punkt som tidligere antatt. (external link)

Report

• Dyrrdal, Anita Verpe; Bakke, Sigrid Jørgensen; Hanssen-Bauer, Inger et al. (2025). Klima i Norge – kunnskapsgrunnlag for klimatilpasning oppdatert i 2025. (external link)
• Eldevik, Tor; Beckers, Jean-Marie; Hansen, Bogi et al. (2021). EASAC policy report 42: A sea of change: Europe’s future in the Atlantic realm. (external link)

Poster

• Asbjørnsen, Helene (2025). Variable northward throughput between the North Atlantic gyres and implications for overturning. (external link)

Academic lecture

• Asbjørnsen, Helene (2025). Variable throughput between the North Atlantic gyres and implications for overturning. (external link)
• Skrefsrud, Johanne; Asbjørnsen, Helene; Eldevik, Tor et al. (2023). Structure and sensitivity of the North Atlantic circulation system. (external link)
• Skrefsrud, Johanne; Eldevik, Tor; Årthun, Marius et al. (2022). On the structure and sensitivity of North Atlantic thermohaline circulation. (external link)
• Årthun, Marius; Asbjørnsen, Helene; Chafik, Leon Martin et al. (2022). Future increase in Nordic Seas overturning as a response to enhanced horizontal circulation. (external link)
• Asbjørnsen, Helene; Eldevik, Tor; Johnson, Helen L. (2022). Observed changes and coherence in the Gulf Stream system. (external link)
• Röhrs, Johannes; Dagestad, Knut-Frode; Asbjørnsen, Helene et al. (2019). Vertical mixing and horizontal drift of oil spills: simulations with the opensource oil spill model OpenOil. (external link)

Academic article

• Asbjørnsen, Helene; Eldevik, Tor; Skrefsrud, Johanne et al. (2024). Observed change and the extent of coherence in the Gulf Stream system. (external link)
• Årthun, Marius; Asbjørnsen, Helene; Chafik, Léon et al. (2023). Future strengthening of the Nordic Seas overturning circulation. (external link)
• Asbjørnsen, Helene; Årthun, Marius (2023). Deconstructing Future AMOC Decline at 26.5°N. (external link)
• Asbjørnsen, Helene; Johnson, Helen L.; Årthun, Marius (2021). Variable Nordic Seas Inflow Linked to Shifts in North Atlantic Circulation. (external link)
• Asbjørnsen, Helene; Årthun, Marius; Skagseth, Øystein et al. (2020). Mechanisms underlying recent Arctic atlantification. (external link)
• Skagseth, Øystein; Eldevik, Tor; Årthun, Marius et al. (2020). Reduced efficiency of the Barents Sea cooling machine. (external link)
• Asbjørnsen, Helene; Årthun, Marius; Skagseth, Øystein et al. (2019). Mechanisms of Ocean Heat Anomalies in the Norwegian Sea. (external link)
• Röhrs, Johannes; Dagestad, Knut-Frode; Asbjørnsen, Helene et al. (2018). The effect of vertical mixing on the horizontal drift of oil spills. (external link)

Feature article

• Asbjørnsen, Helene (2023). Golfstrømmen vil ikke kollapse, men situasjonen er likevel alvorlig. (external link)
• Asbjørnsen, Helene; Årthun, Marius (2021). Kaldere hav i et varmere klima. Hva er det som foregår?. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Asbjørnsen, H., Eldevik, T., Skrefsrud, J., Johnson, H. L., Sanchez-Franks, A. (2024). Observed change and extent of coherence in the Gulf Stream system. Ocean Science, 20(3), https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-799-2024   

Asbjørnsen, H., Årthun, M. (2023). Deconstructing future AMOC decline at 26.5ºN. Geophysical Research Letters, 50(14). https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103515  

Årthun, M., Asbjørnsen, H., Chafik, L., Johnson, H. L., Våge, K. (2023). Future strengthening of the Nordi Seas overturning circulation. Nature Communications, 14, 2065. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37846-6 

Asbjørnsen, H. Johnson, H. L., Årthun, M. (2021). Variable Nordic Seas inflow linked to shifts in North Atlantic circulation. Journal of Climate, 34(17), 7057-7071. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-20-0917.1

Asbjørnsen, H., Årthun, M., Skagseth, Ø., & Eldevik, T. (2020). Mechanisms underlying recent Arctic Atlantification. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(15). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088036

Skagseth, Ø., Eldevik, T., Årthun, M., Asbjørnsen, H., Lien, V., Smedsrud, L. H. (2020). Reduced efficiency of the Barents Sea cooling machine. Nature Climate Change, 10, 661–666. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0772-6 

Asbjørnsen, H., Årthun, M., Skagseth, Ø., & Eldevik, T. (2019). Mechanisms of Ocean Heat Anomalies in the Norwegian Sea. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 124(4), 2908–2923. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JC014649

Röhrs, J., Dagestad, K. F., Asbjørnsen, H., Nordam, T., Skancke, J., Jones, C. E., & Brekke, C. (2018). The effect of vertical mixing on the horizontal drift of oil spills. Ocean Science, 14(6), 1581–1601. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-1581-2018

GYRED (GYRE-induced variability in North Atlantic circulation - Dynamics and impacts on overturning)