Results from a Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) Coupled Climate Model
These maps show variations in surface air temperature around the North
Atlantic resulting from changes in the strength of the thermohaline circulation.
From year 0 to year 99, an external source of freshwater is added to the
North Atlantic between 50°N and 70°N at a rate of 0.1 Sverdrup (1 Sv = 106 m3/s).
The addition of freshwater weakens the thermohaline circulation and cools the region south of Greenland.
After year 100, freshwater
is no longer added to the North Atlantic. Ocean convection resumes
within decades and temperatures warms rapidly southeast of Greenland and in
Western Europe (color changes from green to yellow). Compare year 99 to year 199,
for example, to see the contrast between periods of weakened and normal
thermohaline circulation. In this view of average temperature (rather than temperature change)
the differences between years appear small compared to the large
temperature gradient than exists between low and high latitudes.
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