Abstracts
SEARCH Open Science Meeting
October 27, 2003
Seattle, Washington, USA
Variability in Smulated Arctic Freshwater Budgets
Marika M. Holland1, Joel Finnis2
1Climate and Global Dynamics Division, NCAR, PO Box 3000, Boulder, CO, 80307, USA, Phone 303-497-1734, Fax 303-497-1700, mholland@ucar.edu
2Program in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences, University of Colorado, Campus Box 216, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA, Phone 303-492-6633, Fax 303-492-1149, Joel.Finnis@Colorado.edu
The Arctic fresh water cycle is important for global climate because of its possible influence on deep water formation in the sub-Arctic seas. A characterization of the climatological state and variability in Arctic freshwater budgets is a necessary first step for examining the global implications of the Arctic hydrological cycle. Coupled general circulation models are useful tools for investigating these processes because they provide a complete self-consistent datasets of the relevant fields.
In this study, the mean state and variability of the components of the Arctic freshwater budget from a 1000 year integration of the Community Climate System Model, version 2 are presented. From a comparison to the available observations, it appears that the model has a reasonable simulation of the Arctic hydrological cycle. We discuss possible mechanisms that drive variations in the budget terms. In particular, the influence of large scale modes of variability, such as the Arctic Oscillation are investigated. Results from a climate change integration with increasing atmospheric CO2 levels are also shown and illustrate possible future changes in the Arctic hydrological system. Preliminary results on possible feedbacks of the Arctic freshwater cycle on the global thermohaline circulation are also discussed.
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