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Mountain ranges favour vigorous Atlantic meridional overturning
Author(s) -
Sinha Bablu,
Blaker Adam T.,
Hirschi Joël J.M.,
Bonham Sarah,
Brand Matthew,
Josey Simon,
Smith Robin S.,
Marotzke Jochem
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1029/2011gl050485
Subject(s) - shutdown of thermohaline circulation , zonal and meridional , thermohaline circulation , climatology , geology , ocean current , north atlantic deep water , oceanography , circulation (fluid dynamics) , lead (geology) , general circulation model , environmental science , climate change , geomorphology , physics , thermodynamics
We use a global Ocean‐Atmosphere General Circulation Model (OAGCM) to show that the major mountain ranges of the world have a significant role in maintenance of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). A simulation with mountains has a maximum AMOC of 18 Sv (1 Sv = 10 6 m 3 s −1 ) compared with ∼0 Sv for a simulation without mountains. Atlantic heat transport at 25°N is 1.1 PW with mountains compared to 0.2 PW without. The difference in AMOC is due to major changes in surface heat and freshwater (FW) fluxes over the Atlantic. In the Pacific changed surface fluxes lead to a meridional overturning circulation of 10 Sv. Our results suggest that the effects of mountains on the large‐scale atmospheric circulation is to force the ocean towards a state with a vigorous AMOC and with no overturning in the Pacific.