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www.clim-past-discuss.net/7/1261/2011/
doi:10.5194/cpd-7-1261-2011
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Glacial marine carbon cycle sensitivities to Atlantic ocean circulation reorganization by coupled climate model simulations
1Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
2Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
3International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Abstract. A series of Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) marine carbon cycle sensitivity experiments is conducted to test the effect of different physical processes, as simulated by two atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) experiments, on the atmospheric pCO2. One AOGCM solution exhibits an increase in North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation, whereas the other mimics an increase in Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) associated with a weaker NADW. Due to enhanced gas solubility associated with lower sea surface temperature, both experiments generate a reduction of atmospheric pCO2 by about 20–23 ppm. However, neither a weakening of NADW nor an increase of AABW formation causes a large atmospheric pCO2 change. A marked enhancement in AABW formation is required to represent the reconstructed vertical gradient of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) during LGM conditions. The efficiency of Southern Ocean nutrient utilization reduces in response to an enhanced AABW formation, which counteracts the circulation-induced ocean carbon uptake.
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Notice on Discussion StatusCitation: Chikamoto, M. O., Abe-Ouchi, A., Oka, A., Ohgaito, R., and Timmermann, A.: Glacial marine carbon cycle sensitivities to Atlantic ocean circulation reorganization by coupled climate model simulations, Clim. Past Discuss., 7, 1261-1299, doi:10.5194/cpd-7-1261-2011, 2011. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
