Geochemical constraints on ocean general circulation models. Final report, May 1, 1995--April 30, 1997

Technical Report · Sun May 17 04:00:00 EDT 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/666234· OSTI ID:666234

Broecker, W S

A better understanding of the manner in which the ocean operates is essential to the preparation for the consequences of the generation of CO{sub 2} by fossil fuel burning. Examples are as follows: (1) the ocean will ultimately take up a major fraction of the CO{sub 2} produced, but this uptake is retarded by the slow mixing rates, in order to predict the uptake, researchers must develop and validate general circulation models for the ocean; (2) during glacial time large global climate changes occurred. The changes were abrupt happening in a few decades. The trigger for these changes appears to have been reorganizations of the large-scale thermohaline circulation of the ocean. Models suggest that if the CO{sub 2} content of the atmosphere rises to more than 700 ppm, then a possibility exists that another such reorganization might occur. Hence, researchers must learn more about the factors influencing deep-water formation both in the northern Atlantic and in the Souther Ocean. The thrust of this research was to develop constraints based on the distributions of chemicals and tracers in the sea. The accomplishments are outlined in this report.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-93ER61594
• OSTI ID: 666234
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/61594--T1; ON: DE99000043
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON SINKS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
PROGRESS REPORT
SEAS