On the multiple-cell thermohaline circulation

The classic Stommel (1961) model of thermohaline circulation has predicted the existence of two modes ofocean motion for the pole-equator system. These are, one-cell thermal and one-cell saline modes. In contrast,the laboratory experiments conducted recently to duplicate this conceptual model have f...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Yu. N. Skiba, S.N. Bulgakov
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2004
País:México
Recursos:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Repositorio:Redalyc-UNAM
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:56517204
Acesso em linha:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=56517204
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Ciencias de la Tierra
Thermohaline circulation
theoretical and laboratory modelling
Descrição
Resumo:The classic Stommel (1961) model of thermohaline circulation has predicted the existence of two modes ofocean motion for the pole-equator system. These are, one-cell thermal and one-cell saline modes. In contrast,the laboratory experiments conducted recently to duplicate this conceptual model have found three steadystates in the control space of the model parameters: a two-layer thermal mode, a two-layer saline mode, anda three-layer hybrid state. A two-dimensional theoretical model is applied to investigate the multiple-cellformation. The lowest order solution is analysed using an expansion method and suggesting the aspect ratioas a small parameter. It is shown that asymmetry of vertical distribution between temperature and salinity isresponsible for forming the multiple-cell thermohaline circulation.