Demons in the North Atlantic: Variability of deep ocean ventilation
Translation of atmospheric forcing variability into the ocean interior via ocean ventilation is an important aspect of transient climate change. On a seasonal timescale in the subtropics, this translation is mediated by a so‐called “Demon” that prevents access to all except late‐winter mixed‐layer w...
Published in: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092340 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:055276b3-0849-4422-b93b-824009d6f7ed |
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ftuloxford:oai:ora.ox.ac.uk:uuid:055276b3-0849-4422-b93b-824009d6f7ed 2023-05-15T17:29:08+02:00 Demons in the North Atlantic: Variability of deep ocean ventilation MacGilchrist, GA Johnson, HL Lique, C Marshall, DP 2021-04-21 https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092340 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:055276b3-0849-4422-b93b-824009d6f7ed eng eng Wiley doi:10.1029/2020GL092340 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:055276b3-0849-4422-b93b-824009d6f7ed https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092340 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Journal article 2021 ftuloxford https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092340 2022-06-28T20:05:03Z Translation of atmospheric forcing variability into the ocean interior via ocean ventilation is an important aspect of transient climate change. On a seasonal timescale in the subtropics, this translation is mediated by a so‐called “Demon” that prevents access to all except late‐winter mixed‐layer water. Here, we use an eddy‐permitting numerical circulation model to investigate a similar process operating on longer (interannual) timescales in the subpolar North Atlantic. We find that variations in atmospheric forcing are mediated in their translation to the ocean interior, with year‐to‐year changes in the late‐winter mixed layer depth being the critical factor. The signature of persistent strong atmospheric forcing driving deep mixed layers is preferentially ventilated to the interior when the forcing is ceased. Susceptibility to this effect depends on the location and density of subduction — with the rate at which newly ventilated water escapes its region of subduction being the crucial factor. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic ORA - Oxford University Research Archive Geophysical Research Letters 48 9 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
ORA - Oxford University Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftuloxford |
language |
English |
description |
Translation of atmospheric forcing variability into the ocean interior via ocean ventilation is an important aspect of transient climate change. On a seasonal timescale in the subtropics, this translation is mediated by a so‐called “Demon” that prevents access to all except late‐winter mixed‐layer water. Here, we use an eddy‐permitting numerical circulation model to investigate a similar process operating on longer (interannual) timescales in the subpolar North Atlantic. We find that variations in atmospheric forcing are mediated in their translation to the ocean interior, with year‐to‐year changes in the late‐winter mixed layer depth being the critical factor. The signature of persistent strong atmospheric forcing driving deep mixed layers is preferentially ventilated to the interior when the forcing is ceased. Susceptibility to this effect depends on the location and density of subduction — with the rate at which newly ventilated water escapes its region of subduction being the crucial factor. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
MacGilchrist, GA Johnson, HL Lique, C Marshall, DP |
spellingShingle |
MacGilchrist, GA Johnson, HL Lique, C Marshall, DP Demons in the North Atlantic: Variability of deep ocean ventilation |
author_facet |
MacGilchrist, GA Johnson, HL Lique, C Marshall, DP |
author_sort |
MacGilchrist, GA |
title |
Demons in the North Atlantic: Variability of deep ocean ventilation |
title_short |
Demons in the North Atlantic: Variability of deep ocean ventilation |
title_full |
Demons in the North Atlantic: Variability of deep ocean ventilation |
title_fullStr |
Demons in the North Atlantic: Variability of deep ocean ventilation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Demons in the North Atlantic: Variability of deep ocean ventilation |
title_sort |
demons in the north atlantic: variability of deep ocean ventilation |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092340 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:055276b3-0849-4422-b93b-824009d6f7ed |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
doi:10.1029/2020GL092340 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:055276b3-0849-4422-b93b-824009d6f7ed https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092340 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092340 |
container_title |
Geophysical Research Letters |
container_volume |
48 |
container_issue |
9 |
_version_ |
1766122731931172864 |