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Low-frequency oscillations of the Atlantic Ocean meridional overturning circulation in a coupled climate model
Citation
Schulz, M and Prange, M and Klocker, A, Low-frequency oscillations of the Atlantic Ocean meridional overturning circulation in a coupled climate model, Climate of the Past, 3 pp. 97-107. ISSN 1814-9324 (2007) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2007 The Authors-distributed under the terms of Creative Commons License (CC BY 3.0).
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/
Abstract
Using a 3-dimensional climate model of intermediate
complexity we show that the overturning circulation of
the Atlantic Ocean can vary at multicentennial-to-millennial
timescales for modern boundary conditions. A continuous
freshwater perturbation in the Labrador Sea pushes the overturning
circulation of the Atlantic Ocean into a bi-stable
regime, characterized by phases of active and inactive deepwater
formation in the Labrador Sea. In contrast, deep-water
formation in the Nordic Seas is active during all phases of
the oscillations. The actual timing of the transitions between
the two circulation states occurs randomly. The oscillations
constitute a 3-dimensional phenomenon and have to
be distinguished from low-frequency oscillations seen previously
in 2-dimensional models of the ocean. A conceptual
model provides further insight into the essential dynamics
underlying the oscillations of the large-scale ocean circulation.
The model experiments indicate that the coupled
climate system can exhibit unforced climate variability at
multicentennial-to-millennial timescales that may be of relevance
for Holocene climate variations.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | low-frequency oscilaltions atlantic meridional overturning circulation |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Oceanography |
| Research Field: | Physical Oceanography |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Climate and Climate Change |
| Objective Field: | Climate and Climate Change not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Klocker, A (Dr Andreas Klocker) |
| ID Code: | 91592 |
| Year Published: | 2007 |
| Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
| Deposited On: | 2014-05-22 |
| Last Modified: | 2014-06-10 |
| Downloads: | 252 View Download Statistics |
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