A Reduced-Dimensional Model for the Interhemispheric Geostrophic Meridional Overturning Circulation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simplified yet comprehensive model of the interhemispheric geostrophic meridional overturning circulation, capturing key observational features and aligning well with complex models, aiding climate and oceanographic research.

Contribution

It develops a reduced-dimensional model that incorporates geostrophic balance, boundary mixing, and Southern Ocean dynamics, advancing understanding of the GOC's mechanisms.

Findings

Model agrees with 3D ocean simulations

Clarifies how zonal temperature differences sustain GOC

Framework useful for testing parameterizations

Abstract

The Global Overturning Circulation (GOC) is a key component of the climate system, transporting heat, carbon, and salt throughout the global ocean. Previous reduced-dimensional models have sought to represent this three-dimensional circulation but often neglected three key observational features: (1) the meridional overturning circulation is in geostrophic balance below the Ekman layer, (2) diapycnal mixing is strongly enhanced near ocean boundaries, and (3) upwelling is partly driven by adiabatic dynamics in the Southern Ocean. Building on Callies and Marotzke (2012), we develop a reduced model that consistently incorporates all three by simulating temperature in latitude-depth space along the eastern and western boundaries of a semi-enclosed basin connected in the south to a zonally periodic re-entrant channel. The model clarifies how zonal temperature differences in the basin arise and are maintained through adiabatic and diffusive processes, giving rise to the geostrophic GOC. It also provides a transparent framework for understanding how geostrophic currents cross the equator to form the interhemispheric overturning, and how boundary-intensified mixing and Southern Ocean winds regulate polar downwelling rates. The reduced model shows good agreement with both a three-dimensional ocean model and theoretical scaling laws for stratification and overturning strength. Owing to its simplicity, it is well suited for long integrations exploring the GOC response under extreme forcing scenarios and offers a useful framework for testing eddy and mixing parameterizations.