Steady-state and transient modeling of tracer and nutrient distributions in the global ocean
The balance of stable and decaying tracers was incorporated into a latitude-depth ocean circulation model which resolves the major ocean basin and is coupled to an atmospheric energy balance model. The modern distribution of radiocarbon and the analysis of artificial color tracers enabled the census of the deep water masses. We show that good agreement with the observation can be achieved if the surface forcing is modified. The same process could also account for long-term, large-scale changes of the global thermohaline circulation. Uptake rates of carbon are investigated using an inorganic carbon cycle model and performing 2 [times] CO[sub 2]-experiments. We prescribe the industrial evolution of pCO[sub 2] in the atmosphere from 1792 to 1988 and calculate the total flux of carbon into the world ocean. Results are in good agreement with two recent 3-dimensional model simulation. First results using an organic carbon cycle in this model are presented. Changes in the hydrological cycle can stabilize the thermohaline circulation in the Atlantic and enable simulation of climate events resembling the Younger Dryas. By adding the balance of radiocarbon the evolution of its atmospheric concentration is studied during rapid changes of deep ocean ventilation. A resumption of ventilation creates a rapid decrease of atmospheric radiocarbon which is able to mask the natural decay.
- Research Organization:
- Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY (United States). Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-91ER61202
- OSTI ID:
- 6880310
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/61202-2; ON: DE93011043
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Steady-state and transient modeling of tracer and nutrient distributions in the global ocean
Steady-state and transient modeling of tracer and nutrient distributions in the global ocean. Progress report, June 1, 1991--March 31, 1992
Related Subjects
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON 14
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATE MODELS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY BALANCE
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEI
OCEANIC CIRCULATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIOISOTOPES
SALINITY
SEAS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
SURFACE WATERS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES