Asymmetric response of the Atlantic Meridional Ocean Circulation to freshwater anomalies in a strongly-eddying global ocean model

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) responds sensitively to density changes in regions of deepwater formation. In this paper, we investigate the nonlinear response of the AMOC to large amplitude freshwater changes around Greenland using a strongly-eddying global ocean model. Due t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tellus. Series A, Dynamic meteorology and oceanography Dynamic meteorology and oceanography, 2017-01, Vol.69 (1), p.1299283
Main Authors: Brunnabend, Sandra-Esther, Dijkstra, Henk A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AMOC
Anomalies
Deep water
Fresh water
Freshwater
high-resolution ocean modeling
hosing
Inland water environment
Ocean circulation
Parallel Ocean Program
Water circulation
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Summary:The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) responds sensitively to density changes in regions of deepwater formation. In this paper, we investigate the nonlinear response of the AMOC to large amplitude freshwater changes around Greenland using a strongly-eddying global ocean model. Due to a 0.5 Sv freshwater input, the maximum AMOC at 35 N decreases by about 50% over a 45 year period. The AMOC does not recover over a period of 50 years when the freshwater input is ceased at year 45. However, when reversing the sign of the freshwater input at year 45, the AMOC needs only about 10 years to fully recover. The mechanism that causes this asymmetric response in the AMOC is clarified using water mass transformation theory.
ISSN:1600-0870
1600-0870
DOI:10.1080/16000870.2017.1299283