(Modeling the distribution of carbon isotopes in the ocean, CO sub 2 uptake, and CO sub 2 exchange and radon measurements, Bern, Switzerland and Heidelberg, W. Germany, June 23--August 31, 1989)

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5651266· OSTI ID:5651266

Peng, T. H.

A joint project with Dr. Siegenthaler, comparing the distribution of radiocarbon in the ocean by using the one-dimensional ten-box PANDORA model and a three-dimensional general circulation model (GCM) of the ocean, was performed at the Climate and Environmental Physics Laboratory, Physics Institute, the University of Bern. Analysis of vertical and horizontal water fluxes in Princeton's GCM reveals that major mixing processes take place in the Antarctic Ocean, while the flow of North Atlantic deep water (NADW) is underestimated. By using average fluxes derived from the GCM, the distribution of radiocarbon is calculated in the PANDORA model. The preliminary results, showing that the ocean is much too young, can be attributed to the large circulation fluxes derived from the GCM. Many more computations and comparisons of results from Oak Ridge and Bern need to be done in order to understand the difference in the modeling results when simple box models and complicated GCMs of the ocean are used.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5651266
• Report Number(s): ORNL/FTR-3373; ON: DE90000088
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
EUROPE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
ISOTOPES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEETINGS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
SWITZERLAND
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TRAVEL