Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections

• Main Authors: van Westen, René M., Dijkstra, Henk A.
• Other Authors: Sub Physical Oceanography, Marine and Atmospheric Research
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Antarctic; Southern Ocean; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/413697

Current sea-level projections are based on climate models in which the effects of ocean eddies are parameterized. Here, we investigate the effect of ocean eddies on global mean sea-level rise (GMSLR) projections, using climate model simulations. Explicitly resolving ocean eddies leads to a more realistic Southern Ocean temperature distribution and volume transport. These quantities control the rate of basal melt, which eventually results in Antarctic mass loss. In a model with resolved ocean eddies, the Southern Ocean temperature changes lead to a smaller Antarctic GMSLR contribution compared to the same model in which eddies are parameterized. As a result, the projected GMSLR is about 25% lower at the end of this century in the eddying model. Relatively small-scale ocean eddies can hence have profound large-scale effects and consequently affect GMSLR projections.