Modeling the water masses of the Atlantic Ocean at the Last Glacial Maximum.


Contact
cschaefer-neth [ at ] awi-bremerhaven.de

Abstract

We produced gridded monthly sea-surface boundary conditions for the Atlantic Ocean at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) based on the sea-surface temperature reconstruction of the GLAMAP project. We used an ocean general circulation model (OGCM), subject to these sea-surface boundary conditions and a corresponding wind stress field from an atmospheric general circulation model, to study the differences in the distribution of the main water masses between the LGM and the present. Our global OGCM is characterized by high vertical resolution, low vertical diffusion, and isopycnal mixing and hence allows for a realistic representation of the hydrology and circulation of the modern Atlantic Ocean. According to a series of LGM experiments with an increasing sea-surface salinity anomaly in the Weddell Sea, the ventilated thermocline was colder than today by 2-3 deg C in the North Atlantic Ocean and, in the experiment with the largest anomaly (1.0 beyond the global anomaly), by 4-5 deg C in the South Atlantic Ocean. Its depth was reduced by 50 m on average, most notably in the tropics. In the North Atlantic Ocean the outcrop locations of the thermocline isopycnal surfaces migrated southward by 5-10 degrees, and the ventilation increased. In the South Atlantic Ocean the mixed layer and thermocline water masses were dominated by cold water originating from Drake Passage, and the import of warm water from the Indian Ocean was reduced to about 4 Sv or 40% of its modern value. Antarctic Intermediate Water was colder by 3-4 deg C and could be traced as far as 10 N. The meridional overturning rates of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) and Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) in the Atlantic Ocean were similar to those of the present-day experiment (9 10 Sv and 4 Sv, respectively). However, NADW cooled by 2.5 deg C and AABW by 1 deg C. AABW was near the freezing point of seawater at the surface and the saltiest water mass in the Atlantic Ocean, even saltier than NADW. We show that the differences between the LGM and the present-day experiments can be traced back to the changes in the subpolar and interhemispheric sea-surface density gradients.



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Programs
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
12174
DOI 10.1029/2002PA000783

Cite as
Paul, A. and Schäfer-Neth, C. (2003): Modeling the water masses of the Atlantic Ocean at the Last Glacial Maximum. , Paleoceanography . doi: 10.1029/2002PA000783


Download
[thumbnail of Fulltext]
Preview
PDF (Fulltext)
Pau2003b.pdf

Download (10MB) | Preview
Cite this document as:

Share
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email


Citation

Research Platforms
N/A

Campaigns
N/A


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item