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KLIMAFORSK-Stort program klima

NORthern constraints on the Atlantic ThermoHaline circulation

Alternative title: null

Awarded: NOK 9.6 mill.

Project Number:

229763

Application Type:

Project Period:

2014 - 2019

Funding received from:

Location:

Partner countries:

The Gulf Stream's northernmost limb keeps the Norwegian Sea and most of the Barents Sea ice free. This contributes decisively to Norway's temperate climate, and practical and commercial access to marine resources. NORTH constitutes a comprehensive and novel approach to understand and quantify the structure and variance of northern THC. NORTH is based on a coherent framework of theory development, observations, laboratory experiments, and ocean/climate general circulation models. Key project results of the last period include: + two completed PhDs, Lambert (2017) og Onarheim (2017), respectively concerned with the structure and stability of the Gulf Stream's northern limb; and how the Arctic sea ice extent change, now and in the future + Bringedal et al. (2018) document - from observations - a stable Gulf Stream system between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Mediterranean. + Onarheim et al. (2018) documents the regional and seasonal retreat of Arctic sea ice extent as observed from satellite

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The Atlantic Ocean's thermohaline circulation (THC) is an important and dynamically active modulator of global climate. Its northern limb - the scope of NORTH - extends through the Nordic Seas and the cold Arctic, a region that appears to be particularly influenced by climate change. NORTH constitutes a comprehensive and novel approach to understand and quantify the structure and variance of northern THC. NORTH is based on a coherent framework of theory development, observations, laboratory experiments, a nd ocean/climate general circulation models. The theory in particular assesses the THC's combined sensitivity to change in heat loss and freshwater input, a complexity that is presently unresolved. This sensitivity is decisive for constraining the structu re and variance of future THC and climate as both the Earth's poleward heat transport and hydrological cycle are expected to change in quantity and quality with projected global warming. Our theoretical considerations also target the active role of the at mosphere and possible feedbacks involving northern THC. Two independent avenues of research complement the theoretical approach - laboratory experiments and ocean/climate general circulation model (GCM) simulations. The laboratory provides both evaluation of theory and an intuitive and attractive vehicle for teaching and interaction with the general public. Theory is projected on model simulations, in general not to "validate" theory (which may or may not be more true to nature than a given GCM), but as a novel framework for objectively quantifying simulated THC structure and variance - including contrasting historical and projected climate.

Publications from Cristin

No publications found

Funding scheme:

KLIMAFORSK-Stort program klima