Simulated resumption of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation : slow basin-wide advection and abrupt local convection

Renold, Manuel; Raible, C.C.; Yoshimori, M.; Stocker, T.F.

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.11.005

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Simulated resumption of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation : slow basin-wide advection and abrupt local convection
Authors:	Renold, Manuel Raible, C.C. Yoshimori, M. Stocker, T.F.
DOI:	10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.11.005
Published in:	Quaternary Science Reviews
Volume(Issue):	29
Issue:	1-2
Page(s):	101
Pages to:	112
Issue Date:	2010
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0277-3791
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	551: Geology and hydrology
Abstract:	The resumption process of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is investigated in a series of freshwater hosing experiments using a comprehensive coupled climate model. Four different freshwater perturbations are applied to the North Atlantic between 50°N and 70°N leading to a substantial weakening of MOC and an expansion of winter sea ice cover over the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian (GIN) Seas. Deactivating the freshwater forcing leads to a two-phase recovery of the MOC. The first phase is a slow basin-wide advection process whereas the second phase is an abrupt, decadal-scale transition, located in the North Atlantic. The slow basin-wide advection process to an intermediate state of the MOC is characterized by a restart of the deep water production in the area of the subpolar gyre and the Irminger Basin. However, the ice cover over the GIN Seas remains, whereas the surface density gradually increases in the GIN Seas on a century time scale. The length of this intermediate state depends on the strength of freshwater perturbation, which determines the magnitude of the meridional density gradient in the North Atlantic. The second transition phase is triggered by a model-specific density threshold reached in the GIN Seas. When passed, the MOC abruptly intensifies by ∼60% within 60-80 years. The analysis shows that this abrupt intensification only depends on surface salinity in the GIN Seas. The model results reveal that the simulated sea ice retreat in the GIN Seas and a rapid increase of the Greenland air temperature of the second phase of the resumption of the MOC are similar in amplitude to temperature proxies observed during Dansgaard-Oeschger events of the last ice age.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/13411
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Engineering
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Data Analysis and Process Design (IDP)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Engineering

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Renold, M., Raible, C. C., Yoshimori, M., & Stocker, T. F. (2010). Simulated resumption of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation : slow basin-wide advection and abrupt local convection. Quaternary Science Reviews, 29(1-2), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.11.005

Renold, M. et al. (2010) ‘Simulated resumption of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation : slow basin-wide advection and abrupt local convection’, Quaternary Science Reviews, 29(1-2), pp. 101–112. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.11.005.

M. Renold, C. C. Raible, M. Yoshimori, and T. F. Stocker, “Simulated resumption of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation : slow basin-wide advection and abrupt local convection,” Quaternary Science Reviews, vol. 29, no. 1-2, pp. 101–112, 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.11.005.

RENOLD, Manuel, C.C. RAIBLE, M. YOSHIMORI und T.F. STOCKER, 2010. Simulated resumption of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation : slow basin-wide advection and abrupt local convection. Quaternary Science Reviews. 2010. Bd. 29, Nr. 1-2, S. 101–112. DOI 10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.11.005

Renold, Manuel, C.C. Raible, M. Yoshimori, and T.F. Stocker. 2010. “Simulated Resumption of the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation : Slow Basin-Wide Advection and Abrupt Local Convection.” Quaternary Science Reviews 29 (1-2): 101–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.11.005.

Renold, Manuel, et al. “Simulated Resumption of the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation : Slow Basin-Wide Advection and Abrupt Local Convection.” Quaternary Science Reviews, vol. 29, no. 1-2, 2010, pp. 101–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.11.005.