Examining the relationship between radiocarbon and
potential vorticity in the deep Pacific

Accepted version (text+figures) PDF file

Paper figures

Top version
Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 (download EPS )
Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 11 Fig. 12

Submitted version
Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5
Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 11 Fig. 12


Extra figures:
Layers 3&5 currents Fig. 4_L35
Download higher quality EPS files Fig. 4 , Fig. 4_L35
Bottom C14
C14 sections (N-S and E-W in sigma co-ordinates)
C14 - latitude plot

Greyscale figures
Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6
Fig. 7 (undermixed) Fig. 7 (standard) Fig. 7 (overmixed)
Fig. 8 Fig. 8 (colour) Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. A1

Colour figures (older version)
Fig. 1 Fig 2a Fig. 2b
Fig. 5 Fig. 6a Fig. 6b
Fig. 7a Fig. 7b
Fig. 8

1. Observations

Meridional sections along 170W of C14 and DIC
Meridional density section along 170W, N-S PV variation (WOCE P15 section)
Sea surface C14 and DIC

Tracer/PV distributions on potential density surfaces: Sigma4 45.76 (~2500m) and 45.86 (~4000m)
C14
DIC
PV (Levitus data)
PV-C14 diagrams

2. Model dynamics

The model experiments examine the influx of dense fluid into a basin using an isopycnic model (MICOM 2.7). The model set-up is similar to the one used in Roussenov et al., 2002 with increased vertical resolution (7 layers). Layer interfaces are relaxed in the southern ocean to depths taken from measurements, instead to linear profiles, resulting in more realistic deep water production.

Meridional secton of sigma4 along 170W after 500 model years
Deep velocity and bottom transport
Model PV on sigma surfaces

3.Model tracer experiments

The dynamical model reaches nearly steady state in respect to the vertical stratification (balance between the diapycnal diffusion and deep water inflow from the southern source) for about 500 years. The model fluxes, averaged during the last 5 years, have been used to drive the off-line tracer model. Radiocarbon boundary and initial conditions are based on the measurements (details) . Tracer model has been run for 3-5000 years using different types of tracers: age tracer; tracers corresponding to C12_sol and C14_sol (model delC14 is calculated as (C14_sol/C12_sol - 1)*1000 ). Radiocarbon simulations have been performed using three different diapycnal mixing coefficients.

Age tracer on mid-depth and deep sigma surfaces
Age tracer distribution in bottom layers
N-S section of the model age tracer across 170W
Note that the tracer has "age" less then the length of the model run - 2500 years.

Model C14 on deep sigma surfaces
N-S sections of the model radiocarbon across 170W for different diapycnal mixing coefficients
Model PV-C14 diagrams




This page is made and maintained by V. Roussenov, vassilr@liv.ac.uk
Last update 21 October 2003