U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
Response of the Atlantic Ocean circulation to Greenland Ice Sheet melting in a strongly-eddying ocean model
Abstract
The sensitivity of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) to high–latitude freshwater input is one of the key uncertainties in the climate system. Considering the importance of the AMOC for global heat transports, and the vulnerability of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) to global warming, assessing this sensitivity is critical for climate change projections. Here we present a unique set of computational experiments to investigate the adjustment of the AMOC to enhanced melt water from the GrIS under present–day conditions. For the first time, the response in a global, strongly–eddying ocean model is systematically compared to that of an ocean model typical of IPCC–class climate models. We find that the overall decline of the AMOC on decadal time scales is quantitatively similar (<10%) in the two configurations. Furthermore, the transient response is significantly different, as the AMOC decline and reduction in wintertime convection is markedly more gradual and persistent in the strongly–eddying configuration.
- Authors:
-
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Inst. for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Utrecht (Netherlands)
- Inst. for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Utrecht (Netherlands)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1564838
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 39; Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 0094-8276
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; geology; overturning circulation
Citation Formats
Weijer, W., Maltrud, M. E., Hecht, M. W., Dijkstra, H. A., and Kliphuis, M. A. Response of the Atlantic Ocean circulation to Greenland Ice Sheet melting in a strongly-eddying ocean model. United States: N. p., 2012.
Web. doi:10.1029/2012gl051611.
Weijer, W., Maltrud, M. E., Hecht, M. W., Dijkstra, H. A., & Kliphuis, M. A. Response of the Atlantic Ocean circulation to Greenland Ice Sheet melting in a strongly-eddying ocean model. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012gl051611
Weijer, W., Maltrud, M. E., Hecht, M. W., Dijkstra, H. A., and Kliphuis, M. A. 2012.
"Response of the Atlantic Ocean circulation to Greenland Ice Sheet melting in a strongly-eddying ocean model". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012gl051611. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1564838.
@article{osti_1564838,
title = {Response of the Atlantic Ocean circulation to Greenland Ice Sheet melting in a strongly-eddying ocean model},
author = {Weijer, W. and Maltrud, M. E. and Hecht, M. W. and Dijkstra, H. A. and Kliphuis, M. A.},
abstractNote = {The sensitivity of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) to high–latitude freshwater input is one of the key uncertainties in the climate system. Considering the importance of the AMOC for global heat transports, and the vulnerability of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) to global warming, assessing this sensitivity is critical for climate change projections. Here we present a unique set of computational experiments to investigate the adjustment of the AMOC to enhanced melt water from the GrIS under present–day conditions. For the first time, the response in a global, strongly–eddying ocean model is systematically compared to that of an ocean model typical of IPCC–class climate models. We find that the overall decline of the AMOC on decadal time scales is quantitatively similar (<10%) in the two configurations. Furthermore, the transient response is significantly different, as the AMOC decline and reduction in wintertime convection is markedly more gradual and persistent in the strongly–eddying configuration.},
doi = {10.1029/2012gl051611},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1564838},
journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
issn = {0094-8276},
number = 9,
volume = 39,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri May 11 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Fri May 11 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}
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