Potential Role of Mid‐Latitude Seaway on Early Paleogene Atlantic Overturning Circulation

Abstract The role of the mid‐latitude seaway between the proto‐Paratethys and the North Sea on the early Paleogene ocean circulation is examined with a state‐of‐art earth system model. The early Eocene simulations here demonstrate that the open mid‐latitude seaway captures most relatively fresh surf...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Chenguang Zhu, Zhongshi Zhang, Chenyu Zhu, Jian Zhang
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023
Subjects:
early Paleogene
mid‐latitude seaway
Atlantic overturning circulation
climate modeling
Geophysics. Cosmic physics
QC801-809
Atlantic Arctic
Atlantic-Arctic
Greenland
Labrador Sea
Norwegian Sea
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL102794
https://doaj.org/article/7335a768f85a4573a86ff56859d1a595
Description
Summary:Abstract The role of the mid‐latitude seaway between the proto‐Paratethys and the North Sea on the early Paleogene ocean circulation is examined with a state‐of‐art earth system model. The early Eocene simulations here demonstrate that the open mid‐latitude seaway captures most relatively fresh surface water from the Arctic and Greenland‐Norwegian Sea and prohibits them from leaking into the Labrador Sea, thus benefiting the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). However, the closure of the seaway triggers the AMOC reduction as more relatively fresh surface water enters the Labrador Sea, and the AMOC finally shuts down. Together with geological reconstructions, our results also provide insights into understanding the evolution of the Atlantic‐Arctic oceanic gateways during the Paleogene.

Similar Items