Constraints on mantle 3He fluxes and deep-sea circulation from an oceanic general circulation model

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
• Main Authors: Farley, K., Maier-Reimer, E., Schlosser, P., Broecker, W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1995
• Subjects: Antarctic; Pacific; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0004-F59C-8; http://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0004-F59E-6

The steady-state distribution of helium in the deep sea has been simulated to investigate the magnitude and spatial and temporal variability of mantle degassing and to characterize deep-sea circulation and ventilation. The simulation was produced by linking a simple source function for helium injected at mid-ocean ridges with an oceanic general circulation model (GCM). While the results generally support the GCM's abyssal circulation, the simulation reveals regions of overly-intense lateral diffusion and upwelling in the model, particularly in the equatorial Pacific. Similarly, there appears to be insufficient production of He-ventilated bottom waters in the model Antarctic. These observations suggest that further refinement of the GCM abyssal circulation is required. -from Authors