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WBC transports at 26N: model and observations
xiaobiao xu, Harley E. Hurlburt, William J. Schmitz
University of Southern Mississippi
(Abstract received 01/07/2011 for session X)
ABSTRACT
[poster] To evaluate the model performance on simulating the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), mean transports determined from a climatologically forced, eddy-resolving simulation is compared to the database near 26°N. Within the Florida Strait, the model-based Florida Current has a mean transport of 29.6 Sv and with temperature and salinity structure approximately consistent with observation. East of Abaco, Bahamas, the model results yield a northward transport of about 9 Sv for the Antilles Current above 1000 m and a southward transport of about 23 Sv for the deep western boundary current below 1000 m, both cumulative from Bahamas escarpment to 72°W. Integrated across the Atlantic basin, the mean transport of the upper limb of the AMOC (0-1100 m) is about 18 Sv, compared to 18.5 Sv based on observation. The modeled transport of the lower limb (1100-4800 m), however, is more concentrated above 3000 m than observed. Expressing the AMOC stream function in density space yielded a slightly higher (19 Sv) maximum overturning as in z-space. It however provided a clearer picture of the transport partition: The model-based 19 Sv northward transport consists of 12.5 Sv surface water, 6.5 Sv Antarctic Intermediate water, and zero thermocline water. 16 Sv out of the 19 Sv is carried north within the Florida Current.
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2011 LOM Workshop, Miami, Florida February 7 - 9, 2011