Ocean Bathymetry Sustains and Reshapes Large-Scale Circulation (IMAGE)
Caption
Conceptual schematic illustrating the climatic responses in the Bathyplanet experiment relative to the real-world configuration (REAL). In the absence of continents, realistic ocean bathymetry sustains a deeper Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), while a Pacific Meridional Overturning Circulation (PMOC) emerges. These changes are accompanied by a weaker Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), enhanced southward ocean heat transport, and substantial adjustments in atmospheric circulation, including changes in the Hadley circulation, westerly winds, and a southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The redistribution of ocean heat transport, together with associated sea-ice changes and feedbacks, contributes to Antarctic warming and Arctic cooling. Hemispheric climate asymmetry therefore persists in Bathyplanet, although it is substantially reduced compared with REAL.
Credit
Peixi Wang et al.
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