Sea-ice interaction with the thermohaline circulation

Journal Article · Fri Feb 05 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92GL02920· OSTI ID:6662140

Yang, Jiayan; Neelin, J D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

Linkages have been suggested between observed interdecadal variability of sea-ice and salinity in the North Atlantic. A plausible mechanism for generating such variability through the interaction of sea-ice and the thermohaline circulation (THC) is examined in a zonally-averaged THC model coupled to a thermodynamic ice model. A self-sustaining interdecadal oscillation arises through the feedbacks between salinity anomalies induced by the sea-ice melting-freezing process and anomalous meridional heat transport associated with the THC. The oscillation time scale is not associated with any oceanic time scales but fundamentally depends on ice-THC coupling. The period is quite robust to stochastic forcing, although the regularity is strongly affected. 25 refs., 7 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6662140
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 20:3; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENERGY
EVALUATION
FREEZING
HEAT
HEATING
ICE
MELTING
OCEANIC CIRCULATION
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SALINITY
SEAS
SOLAR HEATING
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS