dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaDynamic sea level changes following changes in the thermohaline circulation
| Authors | Anders Levermann, Alexa Griesel, Matthias Hofmann, Marisa Montoya, Stefan Rahmstorf |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0408062 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0408062 |
| DOI | 10.1007/s00382-004-0505-y |
Abstract
Using the coupled climate model CLIMBER-3a, we investigate changes in sea surface elevation due to a weakening of the thermohaline circulation (THC). In addition to a global sea level rise due to a warming of the deep sea, this leads to a regional dynamic sea level change which follows quasi-instantaneously any change in the ocean circulation. We show that the magnitude of this dynamic effect can locally reach up to ~1m, depending on the initial THC strength. In some regions the rate of change can be up to 20-25 mm/yr. The emerging patterns are discussed with respect to the oceanic circulation changes. Most prominent is a south-north gradient reflecting the changes in geostrophic surface currents. Our results suggest that an analysis of observed sea level change patterns could be useful for monitoring the THC strength.
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"abstract": "Using the coupled climate model CLIMBER-3a, we investigate changes in sea\nsurface elevation due to a weakening of the thermohaline circulation (THC). In\naddition to a global sea level rise due to a warming of the deep sea, this\nleads to a regional dynamic sea level change which follows\nquasi-instantaneously any change in the ocean circulation. We show that the\nmagnitude of this dynamic effect can locally reach up to ~1m, depending on the\ninitial THC strength. In some regions the rate of change can be up to 20-25\nmm/yr. The emerging patterns are discussed with respect to the oceanic\ncirculation changes. Most prominent is a south-north gradient reflecting the\nchanges in geostrophic surface currents. Our results suggest that an analysis\nof observed sea level change patterns could be useful for monitoring the THC\nstrength.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0408062",
"authors": [
"Anders Levermann",
"Alexa Griesel",
"Matthias Hofmann",
"Marisa Montoya",
"Stefan Rahmstorf"
],
"categories": [
"physics.ao-ph",
"physics.geo-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1007/s00382-004-0505-y",
"title": "Dynamic sea level changes following changes in the thermohaline circulation",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0408062"
},
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