Impact of an adiabatic correction technique on the simulation of CFC-12 in a model of the North Atlantic Ocean

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: Zhao, J., Sheng, J., Greatbatch, R. J., Eden, Carsten, Azetsu-Scott, K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: AGU (American Geophysical Union) 2004
• Subjects: Labrador Sea; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/1856/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/1856/1/994_Zhao_2004_ImpactOfAnAdiabaticCorrection_Artzeit_pubid5872.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL020206

A model of the North Atlantic Ocean is used to simulate the spreading of CFC‐12 from the Labrador Sea deep convection site. The standard version of the model fails to capture the local maximum in CFC‐12 concentration that is observed along the continental slope of the western boundary. Hydrographic data are used to apply a simple correction to the model's horizontal momentum equations. The corrected model is much more successful at capturing the nearslope maximum in CFC‐12 concentration than the uncorrected model and also exhibits a 50% increase of the deep southward export of CFC‐12 at 24°N. The difference between the two model runs is shown to be a consequence of the different paths taken by the Deep Western Boundary Current in the two model versions.