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.     

Academic article

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

Conference lecture

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

Research report

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

Media feature article

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

Media interview

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

Conference poster

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

Radio or TV participation

• Helene Asbjørnsen; Eivind Skrødal (2025). Kan Golfstrømmen kollapse?. (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)