A coupled ocean-atmosphere box model of the Atlantic Ocean: a bimodal climate response
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more Also appears in:Nihoul, J.C.J. (Ed.) (1990). Coupled ocean-atmosphere modeling: proceedings of the 21th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics, Liège, May 8-12, 1989. Journal of Marine Systems, 1(1-3). Elsevier Scientific: Amsterdam. 313 pp., more |  |
| Authors | | Top | - Birchfield, G.E.
- Wyant, M.
- Wang, H.
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| Abstract | A coupled ocean-atmosphere box model is presented which, although extremely simplified, permits study of the time domain response of a model of the Atlantic Ocean coupled to an atmosphere. In particular the model can be used to systematically examine questions of multiple equilibria and steady state solutions of the earth's climate. The ocean model includes differential surface heating and evaporation, horizontal and vertical exchange of heat and salt between boxes, and a imply parameterized thermohaline circulation. Surface heat fluxes and evaporation are determined through the coupled ocean and energy-balance atmosphere models which treat fluxes of long and short wave radiation and sensible and latent heat. In this paper only circulations symmetric about the equator are presented. Two parameters represent the most important physics: mu controls the magnitude of the thermohaline circulation; epsilon controls the strength of the hydrological cycle. |
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