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Effect of Resolving Ocean Eddies on the Transient Response of Global Mean Surface Temperature to Abrupt 4xCO 2 Forcing
Author(s) -
Putrasahan D. A.,
Gutjahr O.,
Haak H.,
Jungclaus J. H.,
Lohmann K.,
Roberts M. J.,
von Storch J.S.
Publication year - 2021
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 - 10.1029/2020gl092049
Subject(s) - advection , eddy , climatology , forcing (mathematics) , sea surface temperature , environmental science , ocean heat content , mesoscale meteorology , magnitude (astronomy) , atmospheric sciences , mixed layer , geology , meteorology , thermodynamics , turbulence , physics , astronomy
The magnitude of global mean surface temperature (GMST) response to increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations is affected by the efficiency of ocean heat uptake, which in turn can be affected by oceanic mesoscale eddies. Using the Max Planck Institute ‐ Earth System Model (MPI‐ESM1.2), we find that resolving eddies leads to a −0.1°C cooler response of GMST to an abrupt CO 2 quadrupling, which is related to a larger rate of heat uptake by an eddying ocean. This is consistent with changes in the energy budget of the whole climate system induced by increasing ocean resolution under the same radiative forcing and climate feedback. As a fast response, heat is taken up by the deep ocean, independent of resolution. The change in deep ocean heat uptake due to resolved eddies is an amplification in the magnitude of the responses of all heat processes, including eddy heat advection, mean heat advection, and diffusive processes.