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https://doi.org/10.5194/osd-10-2461-2013
https://doi.org/10.5194/osd-10-2461-2013
20 Dec 2013
 | 20 Dec 2013
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Reconciling the north–south density difference scaling for the Meridional Overturning Circulation strength with geostrophy

A. A. Cimatoribus, S. Drijfhout, and H. A. Dijkstra

Abstract. Since the formulation of the Stommel two-box model for the meridional overturning circulation (MOC), various theoretical and conceptual models for the MOC emerged based on scaling the MOC strength with the north south density difference. At the same time the MOC should obey geostrophic balance with an east-west density difference. Scaling with the north south density gradient seems to violate the common assumption of geostrophic balance for the large-scale circulation, which implies that the pressure gradient is orthogonal to the flow. In this brief report, we report on the results of a series of numerical simulations in an idealized ocean basin (with a zonally periodic channel at its southern end). The simulations performed with different surface forcing conditions indicate that the meridional and zonal density gradients, important for the MOC strength, are in fact related to each other through the stratification located at the northern end of the periodic channel. The results suggest that the water properties at the northern end of the periodic channel play a crucial role in setting the MOC strength, possibly explaining the sensitivity of climate models to the conditions in this area.

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A. A. Cimatoribus, S. Drijfhout, and H. A. Dijkstra

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Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
A. A. Cimatoribus, S. Drijfhout, and H. A. Dijkstra
A. A. Cimatoribus, S. Drijfhout, and H. A. Dijkstra

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This preprint has been withdrawn.