Coupling of the mid-depth and abyssal components of the global overturning circulation according to a state estimate

Using velocities from a state estimate, Lagrangian analysis maps the global routes of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) exiting the Atlantic and reentering the upper branch of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Virtual particle trajectories followed for 8100 years highlight an upper route (32%) and a lower route (68%). The latter samples sigma(2) > 37.07 and is further divided into subpolar (20%) and abyssal cells (48%). Particles in the abyssal cell detour into the abyssal North Pacific before upwelling in the Southern Ocean. NADW preferentially upwells north of 33 degrees S (67%). Total diapycnal transformations are largest in the lower route but of comparable magnitudes in the upper route, challenging its previous characterization as adiabatic. Typical transit times are 300, 700, and 3600 years for the upper route, subpolar, and abyssal cells, respectively. The AMOC imports salinity into the Atlantic, indicating its potential instability to high-latitude freshwater perturbations.

Automated summary

Using Lagrangian analysis, researchers identified two main pathways for North Atlantic Deep Water, with diapycnal transformations being largest in the lower route. Particles in this route detour into the abyssal North Pacific before upwelling in the Southern Ocean. The study suggests that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is potentially unstable to high-latitude freshwater perturbations.