Influences of Freshwater from Major Rivers on Global Ocean Circulation and Temperatures in the MIT Ocean General Circulation Model |
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Authors: | Boyin HUANG and Vikram M MEHTA |
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Institution: | The Center for Research on the Changing Earth System, Clarksville, Maryland 21029, USA,The Center for Research on the Changing Earth System, Clarksville, Maryland 21029, USA |
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Abstract: | Responses of global ocean circulation and temperature to
freshwater runoff from major rivers were studied by blocking
regional runoff in the global ocean general circulation model (OGCM)
developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Runoff into
the tropical Atlantic, the western North Pacific, and the Bay of
Bengal and northern Arabian Sea were selectively blocked. The
blocking of river runoff first resulted in a salinity increase near
the river mouths (2 practical salinity units). The saltier and,
therefore, denser water was then transported to higher latitudes in
the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and southern Indian Ocean by the
mean currents. The subsequent density contrasts between northern and
southern hemispheric oceans resulted in changes in major ocean
currents. These anomalous ocean currents lead to significant
temperature changes (1oC--2oC) by the resulting
anomalous heat transports. The current and temperature anomalies
created by the blocked river runoff propagated from one ocean basin
to others via coastal and equatorial Kelvin waves. This study
suggests that river runoff may be playing an important role in
oceanic salinity, temperature, and circulations; and that partially
or fully blocking major rivers to divert freshwater for societal
purposes might significantly change ocean salinity, circulations,
temperature, and atmospheric climate. Further studies are necessary
to assess the role of river runoff in the coupled atmosphere-ocean
system. |
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Keywords: | river runoff ocean general circulation,freshwater flux |
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