Impact of $\alpha$-stable Lévy noise on the Stommel model for the thermohaline circulation

Abstract

The Thermohaline Circulation, which plays a crucial role inthe global climate, is a cycle of deep ocean due tothe change in salinity and temperature (i.e., density). The effects of non-Gaussian noise onthe Stommel box model for the Thermohaline Circulation are considered. The noiseis represented by a non-Gaussian $\alpha$-stable Lévy motion with $0  &nbsp Dynamical features of this stochastic model is examined by computing the mean exit time for various $\alpha$ values. The mean exit time is simulated by numerically solving a deterministicdifferential equation with nonlocal interactions.It has been observed that some salinity difference levels remain in certain ranges for longer times than other salinity difference levels, for different $\alpha$ values.This indicates a lower variability for these salinity difference levels. Realizing that it is the salinity differences that drive the thermohaline circulation, this lower variability could mean a stable circulation, which may have further implications for the global climate dynamics.