Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections (2024)

Abstract

Current sea-level projections are based on climate models in which the effects of ocean eddies are parameterized. Here, we investigate the effect of ocean eddies on global mean sea-level rise (GMSLR) projections, using climate model simulations. Explicitly resolving ocean eddies leads to a more realistic Southern Ocean temperature distribution and volume transport. These quantities control the rate of basal melt, which eventually results in Antarctic mass loss. In a model with resolved ocean eddies, the Southern Ocean temperature changes lead to a smaller Antarctic GMSLR contribution compared to the same model in which eddies are parameterized. As a result, the projected GMSLR is about 25% lower at the end of this century in the eddying model. Relatively small-scale ocean eddies can hence have profound large-scale effects and consequently affect GMSLR projections.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbereabf1674
Pages (from-to)1-11
JournalScience advances
Volume7
Issue number15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 Apr 2021

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    van Westen, R. M. (2021). Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections. Science advances, 7(15), 1-11. Article eabf1674. https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIADV.ABF1674

    van Westen, René M. ; Dijkstra, Henk A. / Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections. In: Science advances. 2021 ; Vol. 7, No. 15. pp. 1-11.

    @article{52e48bdc2a5d4ac7960fe79f0d429bbc,

    title = "Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections",

    abstract = "Current sea-level projections are based on climate models in which the effects of ocean eddies are parameterized. Here, we investigate the effect of ocean eddies on global mean sea-level rise (GMSLR) projections, using climate model simulations. Explicitly resolving ocean eddies leads to a more realistic Southern Ocean temperature distribution and volume transport. These quantities control the rate of basal melt, which eventually results in Antarctic mass loss. In a model with resolved ocean eddies, the Southern Ocean temperature changes lead to a smaller Antarctic GMSLR contribution compared to the same model in which eddies are parameterized. As a result, the projected GMSLR is about 25% lower at the end of this century in the eddying model. Relatively small-scale ocean eddies can hence have profound large-scale effects and consequently affect GMSLR projections.",

    author = "{van Westen}, {Ren{\'e} M.} and Dijkstra, {Henk A.}",

    note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).",

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    doi = "10.1126/SCIADV.ABF1674",

    language = "English",

    volume = "7",

    pages = "1--11",

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    van Westen, RM 2021, 'Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections', Science advances, vol. 7, no. 15, eabf1674, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIADV.ABF1674

    Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections. / van Westen, René M.; Dijkstra, Henk A.
    In: Science advances, Vol. 7, No. 15, eabf1674, 09.04.2021, p. 1-11.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    TY - JOUR

    T1 - Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections

    AU - van Westen, René M.

    AU - Dijkstra, Henk A.

    N1 - Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).

    PY - 2021/4/9

    Y1 - 2021/4/9

    N2 - Current sea-level projections are based on climate models in which the effects of ocean eddies are parameterized. Here, we investigate the effect of ocean eddies on global mean sea-level rise (GMSLR) projections, using climate model simulations. Explicitly resolving ocean eddies leads to a more realistic Southern Ocean temperature distribution and volume transport. These quantities control the rate of basal melt, which eventually results in Antarctic mass loss. In a model with resolved ocean eddies, the Southern Ocean temperature changes lead to a smaller Antarctic GMSLR contribution compared to the same model in which eddies are parameterized. As a result, the projected GMSLR is about 25% lower at the end of this century in the eddying model. Relatively small-scale ocean eddies can hence have profound large-scale effects and consequently affect GMSLR projections.

    AB - Current sea-level projections are based on climate models in which the effects of ocean eddies are parameterized. Here, we investigate the effect of ocean eddies on global mean sea-level rise (GMSLR) projections, using climate model simulations. Explicitly resolving ocean eddies leads to a more realistic Southern Ocean temperature distribution and volume transport. These quantities control the rate of basal melt, which eventually results in Antarctic mass loss. In a model with resolved ocean eddies, the Southern Ocean temperature changes lead to a smaller Antarctic GMSLR contribution compared to the same model in which eddies are parameterized. As a result, the projected GMSLR is about 25% lower at the end of this century in the eddying model. Relatively small-scale ocean eddies can hence have profound large-scale effects and consequently affect GMSLR projections.

    UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104161828&partnerID=8YFLogxK

    U2 - 10.1126/SCIADV.ABF1674

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    van Westen RM, Dijkstra HA. Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections. Science advances. 2021 Apr 9;7(15):1-11. eabf1674. doi: 10.1126/SCIADV.ABF1674

    Ocean eddies strongly affect global mean sea-level projections (2024)

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