Multiple Equilibria in a Global Ocean General Circulation Model
A global ocean general circulation model is forced using various upper boundary conditions (BCs) on temperature and salinity. Solutions are obtained under restoring and mixed BCs (i.e., a restoring condition on the upper-level temperature but using a fixed, specified surface salt flux). Salt flux an...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
1993
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q6x02/multiple-equilibria-in-a-global-ocean-general-circulation-model https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(1993)023<1670:MEIAGO>2.0.CO;2 |
| Summary: | A global ocean general circulation model is forced using various upper boundary conditions (BCs) on temperature and salinity. Solutions are obtained under restoring and mixed BCs (i.e., a restoring condition on the upper-level temperature but using a fixed, specified surface salt flux). Salt flux anomalies are temporarily applied under mixed BCs, and solutions are obtained in which overturning associated with deep-water formation is either present or absent in the North Atlantic and either vigorous or weak in the North Pacific. A comparison between these solutions helps to clarify the role North Atlantic deep-water formation plays in maintaining the current climate. The surface heat fluxes differ substantially between the solutions, and their very existence is dependent upon these differences. As a result they are not multiple equilibra of the ocean model alone. Instead, they should be regarded as multiple equilibria of a very crude coupled atmosphere-ocean system. |
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