热盐环流中的短路：北半球冰川作用的一个原因？

A short circuit in thermohaline circulation: A cause for northern hemisphere glaciation?

作者信息

Driscoll NW, Haug GH

机构信息

N. W. Driscoll, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA. G. H. Haug, GEOMAR, Forschungszentrum fur Marine Geowissenschaften, Universitat Kiel, Wischhofstrasse 1-3, D-24148 Kiel, Germany.

出版信息

Science. 1998 Oct 16;282(5388):436-8. doi: 10.1126/science.282.5388.436.

DOI:10.1126/science.282.5388.436

PMID:9774262

Abstract

The cause of Northern Hemisphere glaciation about 3 million years ago remains uncertain. Closing the Panamanian Isthmus increased thermohaline circulation and enhanced moisture supply to high latitudes, but the accompanying heat would have inhibited ice growth. One possible solution is that enhanced moisture transported to Eurasia also enhanced freshwater delivery to the Arctic via Siberian rivers. Freshwater input to the Arctic would facilitate sea ice formation, increase the albedo, and isolate the high heat capacity of the ocean from the atmosphere. It would also act as a negative feedback on the efficiency of the "conveyor belt" heat pump.

摘要

约300万年前北半球冰川形成的原因仍不确定。巴拿马地峡的闭合增强了热盐环流，并增加了向高纬度地区的水分供应，但随之而来的热量会抑制冰的形成。一种可能的解释是，输送到欧亚大陆的增强水汽也通过西伯利亚河流增加了向北极的淡水输送。向北极输入淡水将促进海冰形成，增加反照率，并将海洋的高比热容与大气隔离开来。这也将对“传送带”热泵的效率产生负反馈。