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A coupled model study of the Last Glacial Maximum: Was part of the North Atlantic relatively warm?
Author(s) -
Hewitt Chris D.,
Broccoli Anthony J.,
Mitchell John F. B.,
Stouffer Ronald J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl012575
Subject(s) - last glacial maximum , thermohaline circulation , climatology , geology , ocean current , north atlantic deep water , shutdown of thermohaline circulation , glacial period , lead (geology) , oceanography , paleontology
A coupled ocean‐atmosphere general circulation model is used to simulate the climates of today and the last glacial maximum (LGM). The model, which does not require artificial flux adjustments, produces a pattern of cooling at the LGM that is broadly consistent with the findings from simpler models and palaeoclimatic data. However, changes to the ocean circulation produce anomalously warm LGM surface conditions over parts of the North Atlantic, seemingly at odds with palaeoceanographic data. The thermohaline circulation is intensified for several centuries, as is the northward heat transport in the Atlantic equatorward of 55°N, but this may be a transient result. Mechanisms that lead to this response are discussed.