Low-frequency oscillations of the Atlantic Ocean meridional overturning circulation in a coupled climate model

• Main Authors: Schulz, M, Prange, M., Klocker, A.
• Other Authors: Department of Geosciences, DFG Research Center "Ocean Margins"
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2006
• Subjects: [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces; environment; [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences; Labrador Sea; Nordic Seas
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00298149; https://hal.science/hal-00298149/document; https://hal.science/hal-00298149/file/cpd-2-801-2006.pdf

International audience 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 present-day boundary conditions. A weak and continuous freshwater input into the Labrador Sea pushes the overturning circulation of the Atlantic Ocean into a bi-stable regime, characterized by phases of active and inactive deep-water 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 and future climate variations.