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Rapid freshening of the deep North Atlantic Ocean over the past four decades

Author

Listed:
  • Bob Dickson

    (Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science)

  • Igor Yashayaev

    (Bedford Institute of Oceanography)

  • Jens Meincke

    (Institut fur Meereskunde)

  • Bill Turrell

    (Marine Laboratory)

  • Stephen Dye

    (Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science)

  • Juergen Holfort

    (Institut fur Meereskunde)

Abstract

The overflow and descent of cold, dense water from the sills of the Denmark Strait and the Faroe–Shetland channel into the North Atlantic Ocean is the principal means of ventilating the deep oceans, and is therefore a key element of the global thermohaline circulation. Most computer simulations of the ocean system in a climate with increasing atmospheric greenhouse-gas concentrations predict a weakening thermohaline circulation in the North Atlantic as the subpolar seas become fresher and warmer1,2,3, and it is assumed that this signal will be transferred to the deep ocean by the two overflows. From observations it has not been possible to detect whether the ocean's overturning circulation is changing, but recent evidence suggests that the transport over the sills may be slackening4. Here we show, through the analysis of long hydrographic records, that the system of overflow and entrainment that ventilates the deep Atlantic has steadily changed over the past four decades. We find that these changes have already led to sustained and widespread freshening of the deep ocean.

Suggested Citation

  • Bob Dickson & Igor Yashayaev & Jens Meincke & Bill Turrell & Stephen Dye & Juergen Holfort, 2002. "Rapid freshening of the deep North Atlantic Ocean over the past four decades," Nature, Nature, vol. 416(6883), pages 832-837, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:416:y:2002:i:6883:d:10.1038_416832a
    DOI: 10.1038/416832a
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    Cited by:

    1. Anders Levermann & Jonathan Bamber & Sybren Drijfhout & Andrey Ganopolski & Winfried Haeberli & Neil Harris & Matthias Huss & Kirstin Krüger & Timothy Lenton & Ronald Lindsay & Dirk Notz & Peter Wadha, 2012. "Potential climatic transitions with profound impact on Europe," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 110(3), pages 845-878, February.
    2. Unruh, Gregory C. & Carrillo-Hermosilla, Javier, 2006. "Globalizing carbon lock-in," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1185-1197, July.
    3. Ganesh, Ibram, 2015. "Solar fuels vis-à-vis electricity generation from sunlight: The current state-of-the-art (a review)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 904-932.
    4. Affuso, Ermanno, 2019. "Consumer welfare and climate change in Greenland," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Ganesh, Ibram, 2014. "Conversion of carbon dioxide into methanol – a potential liquid fuel: Fundamental challenges and opportunities (a review)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 221-257.

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