Thermohaline circulation sensitivity to intermediate-level anomalies

Vincenzo Artale; Sandro Calmanti; Alfonso Sutera

doi:10.3402/tellusa.v54i2.12130

Thermohaline circulation sensitivity to intermediate-level anomalies

Tellus

Volume 54 (2002): Issue 2

By: Vincenzo Artale, Sandro Calmanti and Alfonso Sutera

Open Access

|Jan 2002

Abstract

A two-dimensional Boussinesq ocean model has been used to investigate the effect of intermediate-level thermal and saline anomalies on the known multiple equilibria structure of the thermohaline circulation. These anomalies are taken as a crude representation of the Mediterranean outflow in the Atlantic Ocean. The associated perturbation drives the system towards an overturning which resembles the present average Atlantic thermohaline circulation. The sensitivity to the depth at which the anomaly is placed is also investigated. We found that near-surface anomalies are more efficient in affecting the structure of the equilibria.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusa.v54i2.12130 | Journal eISSN: 3035-9554

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Language: English

Page range: 159 - 174

Submitted on: Jan 25, 2001

Accepted on: Jul 31, 2001

Published on: Jan 1, 2002

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 2002 Vincenzo Artale, Sandro Calmanti, Alfonso Sutera, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 54 (2002): Issue 2