Publication Abstracts

Sun and Bleck 2001

Sun, S., and R. Bleck, 2001: Thermohaline circulation studies with an isopycnic coordinate ocean model. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 31, 2761-2782, doi:10.1175/1520-0485(2001)031<2761:TCSWAI>2.0.CO;2.

The thermohaline circulation (THC) in a 1000-year near-global numerical simulation using the Miami Isopycnic Coordinate Ocean Model (MICOM) is analyzed and compared to observations. The model, driven by observed monthly atmospheric climatology, uses potential density referenced to 2000m (σ2) as vertical coordinate and accounts for compressibility (thermobaricity) effects. Examination of the 3-dimensional mass flux field reveals that the model comes fairly close to quantitatively reproducing a number of global and basin-scale circulation features, such as the vertical-meridional overturning rate in the three major basins, the meridional heat flux, and the transport through the major passages. Methods are presented that allow the construction of composite diagrams revealing quantitative regional aspects of the modelled circulation in potential density space. The diagrams reveal many features of the modeled THC that adhere to observations, the most noticeable shortcoming being a weaker-than-observed northward penetration of bottom water into the three major basins caused by insufficient production of Antarctic Bottom Water.

Export citation: [ BibTeX ] [ RIS ]

BibTeX Citation

@article{su03000u,
  author={Sun, S. and Bleck, R.},
  title={Thermohaline circulation studies with an isopycnic coordinate ocean model},
  year={2001},
  journal={J. Phys. Oceanogr.},
  volume={31},
  pages={2761--2782},
  doi={10.1175/1520-0485(2001)031%3C2761%3ATCSWAI%3E2.0.CO;2},
}

[ Close ]

RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - su03000u
AU  - Sun, S.
AU  - Bleck, R.
PY  - 2001
TI  - Thermohaline circulation studies with an isopycnic coordinate ocean model
JA  - J. Phys. Oceanogr.
VL  - 31
SP  - 2761
EP  - 2782
DO  - 10.1175/1520-0485(2001)031%3C2761%3ATCSWAI%3E2.0.CO;2
ER  -

[ Close ]

• Return to 2001 Publications

• Return to Publications Homepage