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Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections
René M van Westen1, Henk A Dijkstra2
1Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, Netherlands. r.m.vanwesten@uu.nl.
Science Advances
|April 10, 2021
Summary
Ocean eddies significantly impact sea-level rise projections. Models that explicitly simulate eddies show a 25% reduction in global mean sea-level rise by 2100 due to altered Antarctic melt.
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Climate Science
- Sea-Level Rise Research
Background:
- Current climate models parameterize ocean eddies, simplifying their complex effects.
- Accurate sea-level rise projections depend on realistic representations of ocean dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of explicitly resolving ocean eddies on global mean sea-level rise (GMSLR) projections.
- To quantify the influence of ocean eddies on Antarctic mass loss and its contribution to GMSLR.
Main Methods:
- Utilized climate model simulations to compare eddy-parameterized and eddy-resolving configurations.
- Analyzed Southern Ocean temperature distribution and volume transport changes.
Main Results:
- Explicitly resolving ocean eddies resulted in a more realistic Southern Ocean temperature and volume transport.
- This led to reduced Antarctic basal melt and mass loss.
- Projected GMSLR was approximately 25% lower by the end of the century in the eddy-resolving model.
Conclusions:
- Small-scale ocean eddies have significant large-scale impacts on GMSLR.
- Accurate GMSLR projections necessitate the explicit resolution of ocean eddies in climate models.
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