Sea level anomalies affect the ocean circulation at abyssal depths

• Published in: Scientific Reports
• Main Authors: D. I. Frey, E. G. Morozov, D. A. Smirnova
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Portfolio 2023
• Subjects: Medicine; R; Science; Q; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48074-9; https://doaj.org/article/dff1814b365d48cbb32205fa34816f07

Abstract Abyssal channels are the key points controlling bottom circulation of the World Ocean. They provide meridional transport of the coldest Antarctic Bottom Water between deep-water basins influencing the meridional overturning circulation and the climate on a global scale. Here we show that the synoptic variability of deep-water flows including blocking abyssal currents between deep ocean basins is related to sea level anomalies observed over the channels. Our results demonstrate that processes at the ocean surface have a more significant connection with the bottom circulation than it was considered earlier. This study opens a discussion of the importance of mesoscale eddies and air-sea interactions on water exchange between abyssal basins, meridional heat transport in the ocean, and possible responses of the ocean to the observed sea level rise in a changing climate.