Role of the Southern Ocean in setting the Atlantic stratification and meridional overturning circulation
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Authors
Kamenkovich, Igor
Radko, Timour
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2011
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Abstract
This study examines the importance of the Southern Ocean (SO) stratification in determining the
upper cell of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) and stratification. Main results are
based on a suite of idealized numerical simulations of the Atlantic with the prescribed density structure
at the Atlantic southern boundary, intended to explore the importance of various factors. The results
demonstrate that the density distribution at the SO-Atlantic boundary is the key factor controlling the
Atlantic stratification and MOC, whereas the main importance of the Ekman and eddy (parameterized)
exchanges is in setting the SO stratification. Among all aspects of the SO stratification, the position of
the deep isopycnals near the western boundary of the Atlantic basin appears to determine the strength
of the MOC for given isopycnal outcrop positions in the North Atlantic. The interplay between the
SO stratification and surface density in the North Atlantic is, however, important for the MOC. In
particular, the steady-state AMOC response to a negative North Atlantic density anomaly is shown
to be amplified if the SO stratification is not allowed to change.
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Oceanography
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Journal of Marine Research, 69, 277–308, 2011
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.