The impact of rising atmospheric CO₂ on simulated sea ice induced thermohaline circulation variability

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Other Authors: Holland, Marika (author), Brasket, Aaron (author), Weaver, Andrew (author)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Geophysical Union 2000
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Basin; North Atlantic; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-018-835; https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GL010949

The impact of rising atmospheric CO2 levels on the sea ice induced low frequency variability of the North Atlantic climate is examined using a coupled ice/ocean/atmosphere model. In particular, we focus on thermohaline circulation variability forced by fluctuations in ice export from the Arctic basin. Under 2XCO(2) conditions, the thermohaline circulation variance is reduced to 7% of its simulated value under present day forcing. This decrease is caused by relatively low ice export variability and changes in the primary ice melt location in the northern North Atlantic under 2XCO(2) conditions.