Surface wind-stress threshold for glacial Atlantic overturning
Using a coupled model of intermediate complexity the sensitivity of the last glacial maximum (LGM) Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) to the strength of surface wind-stress is investigated. A threshold is found below which North Atlantic deep water formation (DWF) takes place south o...
| Autores: | , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2008 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) |
| Repositorio: | Docta Complutense |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/51892 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/51892 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | 52 Thermohaline circulation Intermediate complexity System model Climate Greenland Ocean Performance Dynamics Earth Astrofísica Astronomía (Física) |
| Sumario: | Using a coupled model of intermediate complexity the sensitivity of the last glacial maximum (LGM) Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) to the strength of surface wind-stress is investigated. A threshold is found below which North Atlantic deep water formation (DWF) takes place south of Greenland and the AMOC is relatively weak. Above this threshold, DWF occurs north of the Greenland-Scotland ridge, leading to a vigorous AMOC. This nonlinear behavior is explained through enhanced salt transport by the wind-driven gyre circulation and the overturning itself. Both pattern and magnitude of the Nordic Sea's temperature difference between strong and weak AMOC states are consistent with those reconstructed for abrupt climate changes of the last glacial period. Our results thus point to a potentially relevant role of surface winds in these phenomena. |
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