Stability of the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre

    Subpolar Gyre
    Bistability of Subpolar Gyre
    • Paleodata from the North Atlantic indicate that the Atlantic gyre circulation flipped from a weak to strong state about 8000 years ago. A summary can be found here.
    • In a coupled climate model three self-amplifying feedbacks were identifed that can explain such nonlinear behaviour.

    Publications

    M. Montoya, A. Born, A. Levermann
    Reversed North Atlantic gyre dynamics in present and glacial climates
    Climate Dynamics 36 (2011), 1107-1118.
    bibtex entry - endnote entry

    The 8.2k event
    A. Born and A. Levermann
    The 8.2 ka event: abrupt transition of the subpolar gyre toward a modern North Atlantic circulation
    Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems G3, 11 (2010), Q06011.
    » Supplementary information
    bibtex entry - endnote entry

    B. Marzeion, A. Levermann, J. Mignot
    Sensitivity of North Atlantic subpolar gyre and overturning to stratification-dependent mixing: response to global warming
    Climate Dynamics, 34 (2010), 661-668.
    bibtex entry - endnote entry

    A. Born, A. Levermann, J. Mignot
    Sensitivity of the Atlantic ocean circulation to a hydraulic overflow parameterisation in a coarse resolution model: response of the subpolar gyre
    Ocean Modeling, 27 (2009), 130-142.
    bibtex entry

    Bistability
    A. Levermann and A. Born
    Bistability of the Atlantic subpolar gyre in a coarse resolution climate model
    Geophysical Research Letters, 34 (2007), L24605.
    bibtex entry


    Press release
    Atlantic surface circulation qualifies as .tipped. element (25 Jun. 2010)