Global decline of deep water formation with increasing atmospheric CO2

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Authors

Céline Heuzé , Martin Mohrmann, Ellen Andersson, Emelie Crafoord

Abstract

Deep water formation is not only the driver of the global ocean circulation; by sending heat and carbon to the deep ocean, it is also crucial for climate change mitigation. Yet its future is uncertain: will it slow down as stratification increases, emerge in polar regions as the wind starts blowing over previously ice-covered waters, or intensify with increased evaporation? Here we present the first global study of the evolution of deep water formation as atmospheric CO2 concentration increases, using the latest generation of Earth System models (CMIP6). We show that open ocean deep convection stops globally shortly before 600 ppm, mostly in response to increased stratification, but that deep water formation continues under a different regime. Deep convection does not emerge in ice-freed regions. The mechanism is self-reinforcing, as less mixing also increases stratification and modifies heat fluxes, with most oceanic regions gaining even more heat.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31223/X56K6D

Subjects

Environmental Sciences, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

Keywords

climate change, CMIP6, ocean mixing, sea ice, deep water, stratification

Dates

Published: 2020-10-24 10:49

Last Updated: 2020-10-25 12:04

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License

CC BY Attribution 4.0 International