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Climatic Impact of a Change in North Atlantic Deep Water FormationThe response of the ocean to climate changes is one of the most uncertain questions regarding the impact of increasing CO2 on climate and society. North Atlantic deep water (NADW) formation apparently depends on a complex confluence of different water masses originating in different areas, all of which will presumably be affected by changes in wind, evaporation, etc., as the atmosphere warms. To analyze from first principles what the effect will be on NADW formation is a task which requires an ocean modeling capability not yet available. As a substitute, past climates can be investigated to see if there is any evidence for alterations in NADW formation. In addition, the possible impact of such changes on climate can be explored. An estimate of NADW sensitivity (at least in the past) and of the climate consequences can be studied. The North Atlantic surface water temperatures can be reconstructed to indicate a substantial cooling between 11,000 and 10,000 years B.P. Were NADW formation to have ceased, it would have resulted in cooler surface waters; whether the reconstructed temperatures were due to this or some other effect cannot be determined at this time. Nevertheless, it was decided that it would be useful to see what the effect these colder temperatures would have had on the climate.
Document ID
19850017734
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rind, D.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: North Atlantic Deep Water Formation
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
85N26045
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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