Effect of Vegetation on the Late Miocene Ocean Circulation

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Gerrit Lohmann¹  Martin Butzin¹  Torsten Bickert² 

[1] Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bussestr. 24, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany; E-Mail:;MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, P.O. Box 330440, 28334 Bremen, Germany; E-Mail:

关键词: ocean circulation;    Late Miocene;    hydrological cycle;    Central American gateway;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jmse3041311

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

We examine the role of the vegetation cover and the associated hydrological cycle on the deep ocean circulation during the Late Miocene (~10 million years ago). In our simulations, an open Central American gateway and exchange with fresh Pacific waters leads to a weak and shallow thermohaline circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean which is consistent with most other modeling studies for this time period. Here, we estimate the effect of a changed vegetation cover on the ocean general circulation using atmospheric circulation model simulations for the late Miocene climate with 353 ppmv CO₂ level. The Late Miocene land surface cover reduces the albedo, the net evaporation in the North Atlantic catchment is affected and the North Atlantic water becomes more saline leading to a more vigorous North Atlantic Deep Water circulation. These effects reveal potentially important feedbacks between the ocean circulation, the hydrological cycle and the land surface cover for Cenozoic climate evolution.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.