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Freshwater teleconnections and ocean thermohaline circulation
Author(s) -
Seidov Dan,
Haupt Bernd J.
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1029/2002gl016564
Subject(s) - thermohaline circulation , shutdown of thermohaline circulation , oceanography , teleconnection , ocean current , climatology , salinity , geotraces , sea surface temperature , north atlantic deep water , geology , ocean heat content , ocean observations , environmental science , seawater , el niño southern oscillation
Asymmetry of the Atlantic and Pacific sea surface salinity (SSS) is recognized as an important element of the global ocean thermohaline circulation. However, a threshold of such asymmetry that may trigger a true global deep‐ocean conveyor has not yet been examined. A combined effect of the Atlantic‐Pacific and the Southern Ocean surface salinity asymmetries also has not yet been clearly shown. We address these issues and conclude that Atlantic‐Pacific SSS asymmetry is one of the most critical elements for maintaining the global ocean conveyor. Our experiments suggest, albeit preliminary, that high‐latitudinal freshwater impacts, as a mechanism of altering global ocean thermohaline circulation, may be less effective than inter‐basin freshwater communications.