Atmospheric CO2 forcing on glacial thermohaline circulation and climate

Zheng Yu Liu, Sang Ik Shin, Robert S. Webb, William Lewis, Bette L. Otto-Bliesner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

A coupled climate model study indicates the paleoclimate record of glacial thermohaline circulation (THC) and reversed deep-sea temperature-salinity (T-S) distribution in the Atlantic can be explained largely by lower glacial atmospheric CO2 alone. The reduced CO2 leads to increased Southern Ocean wintertime sea-ice cover and salinity, increased production of dense Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), enhanced cold and saline AABW penetration into the deep North Atlantic, increased oceanic vertical stability, and reduced North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) circulation. The dominant role of CO2 forcing during the glacial implies a positive feedback between the Southern Ocean regulated THC and the glacial global carbon cycle.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-4
Number of pages4
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 28 2005

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