Oceanic Pathways of an Active Pacific Meridional Overturning Circulation (PMOC)

In contrast to the modern-day climate, North Pacific deep water formation and a meridional overturning circulation (PMOC) may have been active during past climate conditions, in particular Pliocene epoch (some 3–5 million years ago). Here, we use model simulation with robust PMOC cell investigate pathways of from subduction upwelling, as revealed by Lagrangian particle trajectories. We find that similar present-day Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), most subducted upwells Southern Ocean. However, roughly 15% tropical Indo-Pacific Oceans instead—a key feature distinguishing AMOC. The connection Indian Ocean is relatively fast, at about 250 years. slower (∼800 years) first travels subtropical South then gradually through thermocline.