Effects of stopping the Mediterranean Outflow on the southern polar region

概要

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The extent to which the southern polar region is sensitive to the stopping of the Mediterranean Outflow is investigated by using a global ocean-atmosphere coupled model. Two experimental runs, one(named the control run) with and the other(named the NMOW run) without exchanges of heat and salinity between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, are carried out in order to simulate the presence and absence of the outflow. Large responses in the sea surface temperature are found in both the northern North Atlantic and the Southern Ocean. For the NMOW run, the response in the Southern Ocean shows general decreases in sea surface temperature and salinity over a millenial timescale. Sea-ice thickness mostly increases, but is reduced in regions associated with increased sea surface temperature. The freshening of the Southern Ocean brings about a decrease in the density difference between the southern polar regions and the tropics. Consequently, the meridional overturning which transports Antarctic Bottom Water decreases.
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