The role of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) in the thermocline circulation of the low-latitude Pacific Ocean is explored using a high-resolution primitive equation ocean circulation model. Seasonally forced runs for a domain with an open Indonesian passage are compared with seasonally forced runs for a closed Pacific domain. Three cases are considered: one with no throughflow, one with 10 Sv o...

The stratification of the equatorial thermocline is a key variable for tropical climate dynamics, through its influence on the temperature of the water that upwells in the eastern equatorial ocean. In this study, two types of ocean models are used, an ocean general circulation model (GCM) and a 11⁄2-layer model, to investigate processes by which changes in the midlatitude winds affect the equat...

The upper ocean circulation in the western tropical Atlantic (WTA) is responsible for northward cross-equatorial heat transport as part of Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This influenced by thermocline and stratification. Although seasonal stratification WTA precession-driven, existence an orbital pacemaker changes entire stratification, which comprises main thermocline, remains elus...

Please cite this article in press as: Ferrari, R j.ocemod.2011.02.013 The ocean contributes to regulating the Earth’s climate through its ability to transport heat from the equator to the poles. In this study we use long simulations of an ocean model to investigate whether the heat transport is carried primarily by wind-driven gyres or whether it is dominated by deep circulations associated wit...

The amplitude of El Ni~ no–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) displays pronounced interdecadal modulations in observations. The mechanisms for the amplitude modulation are investigated using a 2000-yr preindustrial control integration from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model, version 2.1 (GFDL CM2.1). ENSO amplitude modulation is highly correlated with the second empirical orthogon...

Climate model experiments are analyzed to elucidate if and how the changes in mean climate in response to doubling of atmospheric CO2 (2xCO2) influence ENSO. The processes involved the development, transition, and decay of simulated ENSO events are quantified through a multimodel heat budget analysis. The simulated changes in ENSO amplitude in response to 2xCO2 are directly related to changes i...

A frictional geostrophic model is used to examine how the stability of the thermo haline circulation is a ected by idealized topographic variations and the presence or absence of wind stress If the ow exhibits collapses we consider how topography and wind stress a ect the ensuing oscillations Large scale slope up towards the north or the west can signi cantly destabilize the circulation by modi...

Abstract Melt rates of West Antarctic ice shelves in the Amundsen Sea track large decadal variations volume warm water at their outlets. This variability is generally attributed to wind‐driven transport toward shelves. Inspired by conceptual representations global overturning circulation, we introduce a simple model for evolution thermocline, which caps layer ice‐shelf front. demonstrates that ...

From the early 1970's to the mid-1980's, the main thermocline of the subarctic gyre of the North Paci c Ocean shoaled with temperatures at 200-400m depth cooling by 1-4 C over the region. The gyre-scale structure of the shoaling is quasi-stationary and intensi ed in the western part of the basin north of 30N, suggesting concurrent changes in gyre-scale transport. A similar quasi-stationary cool...