Intermediate water mass production controlled by southern hemisphere winds

• Published in: Geophysical research letters 2001-02, Vol.28 (3), p.535-538
• Main Author: Ribbe, Joachim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Marine; Physics of the oceans; Thermohaline structure and circulation. Turbulence and diffusion
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2000GL012242

It is demonstrated that the production of intermediate water in a coarse resolution ocean general circulation model is controlled by Southern Hemisphere winds. Results from four equilibrium experiments using simplified topography and surface forcing are presented. The first experiment was carried out with no wind forcing, subsequent experiments employed annual mean surface stresses, which were amplified using factors of 0.5, 1, and 2.0 south of 30°S. In all experiments, the salinity minimum characteristic for intermediate water is reproduced. Volume transports are directly proportional to the applied Southern Hemisphere surface stresses. These force an increased export of intermediate water and heat into the South Pacific Ocean northward across 30°S and through Drake Passage into the South Atlantic Ocean. It results in a warming of the South Pacific Ocean, which is at a maximum in the intermediate water density range.