141607 - Anthropogenic temperature and salinity changes in the Southern Ocean.pdf (2.61 MB)
Anthropogenic temperature and salinity changes in the Southern Ocean
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 19:01 authored by William HobbsWilliam Hobbs, Roach, C, Roy, T, Sallee, J-B, Nathaniel BindoffNathaniel BindoffIn this study, we compare observed Southern Ocean temperature and salinity changes with the historical simulations from 13 models the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project version 5 (CMIP5), using an optimal fingerprinting framework. We show that there is an unequivocal greenhouse gas-forced warming in the Southern Ocean. This warming is strongest in the Sub-Antarctic Mode Waters, but is also detectable in denser watermasses which has not been shown in previous studies. We also find greenhouse gas-forced salinity changes, most notably a freshening of Antarctic Intermediate Waters. Our analysis also shows that non-greenhouse gas anthropogenic forcings - anthropogenic aerosols and stratospheric ozone depletion – have played an important role in mitigating the Southern Ocean’s warming. However, the detectability of these responses using optimal fingerprinting is model-dependent, and this result is therefore not as robust as for the greenhouse gas response.
Funding
Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth)
History
Publication title
Journal of ClimateVolume
34Pagination
215-228ISSN
0894-8755Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Amer Meteorological SocPlace of publication
45 Beacon St, Boston, USA, Ma, 02108-3693Rights statement
Copyright 2020 American Meteorological SocietyRepository Status
- Restricted