Mixing and Geometry in the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Abstract Vertical motions across the ocean are central to processes, like CO2 fixation, heat removal or pollutant transport, which are essential to the Earth's climate. This work explores 3D conveyor routes associated with the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Our findings sho...

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Main Authors: Renzo Bruera, Jezabel Curbelo, Guillermo García‐Sánchez, Ana M. Mancho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-04-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102244
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author Renzo Bruera
Jezabel Curbelo
Guillermo García‐Sánchez
Ana M. Mancho
author_facet Renzo Bruera
Jezabel Curbelo
Guillermo García‐Sánchez
Ana M. Mancho
author_sort Renzo Bruera
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Vertical motions across the ocean are central to processes, like CO2 fixation, heat removal or pollutant transport, which are essential to the Earth's climate. This work explores 3D conveyor routes associated with the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Our findings show the geometry of mixing structures in the upper and deep ocean layers by means of Lagrangian Coherent Structures. This tool identifies among others, zones linked to vertical transport and characterizes vertical transport time scales. We focus the study in two regions. The first one is the Flemish Cap region, a zone of interaction between the major AMOC components, where our analysis identifies a domain of deep waters that ascend very rapidly to the ocean surface. The second one is the Irminger Sea, where our analysis confirms the existence of a downwelling zone, and reveals a previously unreported upwelling connection between very deep waters and the ocean surface.
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spelling doaj-art-2fb18a18ef8e421798dd82d1b4846c4a2025-08-20T02:45:43ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072023-04-01507n/an/a10.1029/2022GL102244Mixing and Geometry in the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning CirculationRenzo Bruera0Jezabel Curbelo1Guillermo García‐Sánchez2Ana M. Mancho3Departament de Matemàtiques Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Barcelona SpainDepartament de Matemàtiques Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Barcelona SpainInstituto de Ciencias Matemáticas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas C/ Nicolás Cabrera 13‐15 Campus Cantoblanco Madrid SpainInstituto de Ciencias Matemáticas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas C/ Nicolás Cabrera 13‐15 Campus Cantoblanco Madrid SpainAbstract Vertical motions across the ocean are central to processes, like CO2 fixation, heat removal or pollutant transport, which are essential to the Earth's climate. This work explores 3D conveyor routes associated with the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Our findings show the geometry of mixing structures in the upper and deep ocean layers by means of Lagrangian Coherent Structures. This tool identifies among others, zones linked to vertical transport and characterizes vertical transport time scales. We focus the study in two regions. The first one is the Flemish Cap region, a zone of interaction between the major AMOC components, where our analysis identifies a domain of deep waters that ascend very rapidly to the ocean surface. The second one is the Irminger Sea, where our analysis confirms the existence of a downwelling zone, and reveals a previously unreported upwelling connection between very deep waters and the ocean surface.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102244Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulationocean vertical motionLagrangian Coherent Structures
spellingShingle Renzo Bruera
Jezabel Curbelo
Guillermo García‐Sánchez
Ana M. Mancho
Mixing and Geometry in the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Geophysical Research Letters
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
ocean vertical motion
Lagrangian Coherent Structures
title Mixing and Geometry in the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
title_full Mixing and Geometry in the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
title_fullStr Mixing and Geometry in the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
title_full_unstemmed Mixing and Geometry in the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
title_short Mixing and Geometry in the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
title_sort mixing and geometry in the north atlantic meridional overturning circulation
topic Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
ocean vertical motion
Lagrangian Coherent Structures
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102244
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