Atlantic pycnocline theory scrutinized using a coupled climate model

Levermann A, Fürst J (2010)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Journal

Geophysical Research Letters American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Publisher: AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION

Book Volume: 37

URI: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2010GL044180

DOI: 10.1029/2010GL044180

Abstract

Simulations with changed Southern Ocean wind-stress, oceanic vertical mixing, surface freshwater forcing and global warming confirm the basic equations of Gnanadesikan's (1999) theory for the Atlantic: one vertical scale, the pycnocline depth D, contributes inversely proportional to low-latitudinal upwelling and linearly to Southern Ocean eddy transport. The maximum Atlantic overturning is confirmed to be quadratic in D but is also shown to be linear in a meridional density difference Delta rho. Our simulations strongly suggest that the theory needs to be complemented by a dynamical equation for Delta rho since changes in both D and Delta rho are significant and mutually independent. While, under global warming D varies strongly and Delta rho is practically constant, the situation is reversed for altered surface freshwater fluxes. Similarly, variations in the meridional length scale of Southern Ocean outcropping require a dynamical equation in order to capture the fundamental behavior of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Citation: Levermann, A., and J. J. Furst (2010), Atlantic pycnocline theory scrutinized using a coupled climate model, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L14602, doi:10.1029/2010GL044180.

Authors with CRIS profile

Johannes Fürst Institut für Geographie

Involved external institutions

Universität Potsdam DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Levermann, A., & Fürst, J. (2010). Atlantic pycnocline theory scrutinized using a coupled climate model. Geophysical Research Letters, 37. https://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2010GL044180

MLA:

Levermann, Anders, and Johannes Fürst. "Atlantic pycnocline theory scrutinized using a coupled climate model." Geophysical Research Letters 37 (2010).

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