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Deciphering the pathways for the deep limb of the Meridional Overturning Circulation

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gary, SF; Susan Lozier, M; Böning, CW; Biastoch, A
Published in: Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
September 1, 2011

For the past 50 years it has been assumed that the principal pathway for the deep limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC). However, recent observations of Lagrangian floats have shown that the DWBC is not necessarily a unique, dominant, or continuous pathway for these deep waters. A significant portion of the deep water export from the subpolar to the subtropical gyres follows a pathway through the interior of the Newfoundland and subtropical basins, which is constrained by the western boundary and the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The hypothesis that deep eddy-driven recirculation gyres are a mechanism for partitioning the deep limb of the AMOC into the DWBC and this interior pathway is investigated here. Eulerian and Lagrangian analyses of the output of ocean general circulation models at eddy-resolving, eddy-permitting, and non-eddy permitting resolutions are used to test this hypothesis. Eddy-driven recirculation gyres, simulated in the eddy-resolving and eddy-permitting models and similar to recirculations inferred from hydrographic data, are shown to shape the export pathways of deep water from the subpolar to the subtropical gyres. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

DOI

ISSN

0967-0645

Publication Date

September 1, 2011

Volume

58

Issue

17-18

Start / End Page

1781 / 1797

Related Subject Headings

  • Oceanography
  • 3708 Oceanography
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0405 Oceanography
  • 0402 Geochemistry
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Gary, S. F., Susan Lozier, M., Böning, C. W., & Biastoch, A. (2011). Deciphering the pathways for the deep limb of the Meridional Overturning Circulation. Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 58(17–18), 1781–1797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.10.059
Gary, S. F., M. Susan Lozier, C. W. Böning, and A. Biastoch. “Deciphering the pathways for the deep limb of the Meridional Overturning Circulation.” Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 58, no. 17–18 (September 1, 2011): 1781–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.10.059.
Gary SF, Susan Lozier M, Böning CW, Biastoch A. Deciphering the pathways for the deep limb of the Meridional Overturning Circulation. Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 2011 Sep 1;58(17–18):1781–97.
Gary, S. F., et al. “Deciphering the pathways for the deep limb of the Meridional Overturning Circulation.” Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, vol. 58, no. 17–18, Sept. 2011, pp. 1781–97. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.10.059.
Gary SF, Susan Lozier M, Böning CW, Biastoch A. Deciphering the pathways for the deep limb of the Meridional Overturning Circulation. Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 2011 Sep 1;58(17–18):1781–1797.
Journal cover image

Published In

Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

DOI

ISSN

0967-0645

Publication Date

September 1, 2011

Volume

58

Issue

17-18

Start / End Page

1781 / 1797

Related Subject Headings

  • Oceanography
  • 3708 Oceanography
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0405 Oceanography
  • 0402 Geochemistry