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Thermohaline circulation hysteresis: a model intercomparison

Thermohaline circulation hysteresis: a model intercomparison
Thermohaline circulation hysteresis: a model intercomparison
We present results from an intercomparison of 11 different climate models of intermediate complexity, in which the North Atlantic Ocean was subjected to slowly varying changes in freshwater input. All models show a characteristic hysteresis response of the thermohaline circulation to the freshwater forcing; which can be explained by Stommel's salt advection feedback. The width of the hysteresis curves varies between 0.2 and 0.5 Sv in the models. Major differences are found in the location of present-day climate on the hysteresis diagram. In seven of the models, present-day climate for standard parameter choices is found in the bi-stable regime, in four models this climate is in the mono-stable regime. The proximity of the present-day climate to the Stommel bifurcation point, beyond which North Atlantic Deep Water formation cannot be sustained, varies from less than 0.1 Sv to over 0.5 Sv.
0094-8276
L23605-[5pp]
Rahmstorf, S.
17c20bd9-0312-4a99-8f8f-8632870fd7cc
Crucifix, M.
12be08bf-fbeb-4657-abf2-09d55a18bd2f
Ganopolski, A.
cbaa7875-b285-420d-8515-8410dc2a0053
Goosse, H.
74d2165f-def3-476f-a00d-5c8cbef80bfc
Kamenkovich, I.
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Knutti, R.
fb3fdb6b-8d2d-4849-a971-85db4e0ae856
Lohmann, G.
48f2fc73-36f6-43de-91be-e2ef72b90f15
Marsh, R.
702c2e7e-ac19-4019-abd9-a8614ab27717
Mysak, L.A.
ede215e3-b79f-4698-bafa-032b425903d9
Wang, Z.M.
514c4d6d-6ba1-44f8-925d-2f92a435c667
Weaver, A.J.
dca119d1-61c3-44ff-83b3-5b5e897b0ab5
Rahmstorf, S.
17c20bd9-0312-4a99-8f8f-8632870fd7cc
Crucifix, M.
12be08bf-fbeb-4657-abf2-09d55a18bd2f
Ganopolski, A.
cbaa7875-b285-420d-8515-8410dc2a0053
Goosse, H.
74d2165f-def3-476f-a00d-5c8cbef80bfc
Kamenkovich, I.
a859b5f4-be22-4b37-b4c3-9b22e6242a43
Knutti, R.
fb3fdb6b-8d2d-4849-a971-85db4e0ae856
Lohmann, G.
48f2fc73-36f6-43de-91be-e2ef72b90f15
Marsh, R.
702c2e7e-ac19-4019-abd9-a8614ab27717
Mysak, L.A.
ede215e3-b79f-4698-bafa-032b425903d9
Wang, Z.M.
514c4d6d-6ba1-44f8-925d-2f92a435c667
Weaver, A.J.
dca119d1-61c3-44ff-83b3-5b5e897b0ab5

Rahmstorf, S., Crucifix, M., Ganopolski, A., Goosse, H., Kamenkovich, I., Knutti, R., Lohmann, G., Marsh, R., Mysak, L.A., Wang, Z.M. and Weaver, A.J. (2005) Thermohaline circulation hysteresis: a model intercomparison. Geophysical Research Letters, 32 (23), L23605-[5pp]. (doi:10.1029/2005GL023655).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We present results from an intercomparison of 11 different climate models of intermediate complexity, in which the North Atlantic Ocean was subjected to slowly varying changes in freshwater input. All models show a characteristic hysteresis response of the thermohaline circulation to the freshwater forcing; which can be explained by Stommel's salt advection feedback. The width of the hysteresis curves varies between 0.2 and 0.5 Sv in the models. Major differences are found in the location of present-day climate on the hysteresis diagram. In seven of the models, present-day climate for standard parameter choices is found in the bi-stable regime, in four models this climate is in the mono-stable regime. The proximity of the present-day climate to the Stommel bifurcation point, beyond which North Atlantic Deep Water formation cannot be sustained, varies from less than 0.1 Sv to over 0.5 Sv.

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Published date: December 2005
Organisations: National Oceanography Centre,Southampton

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Local EPrints ID: 20378
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/20378
ISSN: 0094-8276
PURE UUID: 3d65326c-6600-4b05-b5c8-6a64aca86b95

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Date deposited: 23 Feb 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:24

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Contributors

Author: S. Rahmstorf
Author: M. Crucifix
Author: A. Ganopolski
Author: H. Goosse
Author: I. Kamenkovich
Author: R. Knutti
Author: G. Lohmann
Author: R. Marsh
Author: L.A. Mysak
Author: Z.M. Wang
Author: A.J. Weaver

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