The dependence of AABW transport in the Atlantic on vertical diffusivity

Abstract

Simple theoretical arguments are employed to study the dependence of the volume and transport of the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) in the Atlantic Ocean on the vertical diffusivity. We have found that while the vertical extent of the AABW cell decreases with the intensification and deepening of the North Atlantic overturning cell, the transport of AABW into the Atlantic increases. The latter fact is explained by the increase in the deep meridional pressure gradient, which drives the flow. An estimate of the AABW transport is then derived from the density balance in the deep western boundary layer.