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Threshold in North Atlantic-Arctic Ocean circulation controlled by the subsidence of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge

Author

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  • Michael Stärz

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Wilfried Jokat

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Gregor Knorr

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK)

  • Gerrit Lohmann

    (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

Abstract

High latitude ocean gateway changes are thought to play a key role in Cenozoic climate evolution. However, the underlying ocean dynamics are poorly understood. Here we use a fully coupled atmosphere-ocean model to investigate the effect of ocean gateway formation that is associated with the subsidence of the Greenland–Scotland Ridge. We find a threshold in sill depth (∼50 m) that is linked to the influence of wind mixing. Sill depth changes within the wind mixed layer establish lagoonal and estuarine conditions with limited exchange across the sill resulting in brackish or even fresher Arctic conditions. Close to the threshold the ocean regime is highly sensitive to changes in atmospheric CO2 and the associated modulation in the hydrological cycle. For larger sill depths a bi-directional flow regime across the ridge develops, providing a baseline for the final step towards the establishment of a modern prototype North Atlantic-Arctic water exchange.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Stärz & Wilfried Jokat & Gregor Knorr & Gerrit Lohmann, 2017. "Threshold in North Atlantic-Arctic Ocean circulation controlled by the subsidence of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15681
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15681
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinwei Yan & Xu Zhang & Bo Liu & Huw T. Mithan & John Hellstrom & Sophie Nuber & Russell Drysdale & Junjie Wu & Fangyuan Lin & Ning Zhao & Yuao Zhang & Wengang Kang & Jianbao Liu, 2025. "Asynchronicity of deglacial permafrost thawing controlled by millennial-scale climate variability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.

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