Southern Ocean sea‐ice control of the glacial North Atlantic thermohaline circulation

Abstract

A coupled model simulates a shallower and weaker North Atlantic Deep Water circulation at the Last Glacial Maximum, compared to the modern, with an enhanced intrusion of Antarctic Bottom Water into the North Atlantic. These circulation changes are caused by the enhanced Antarctic Bottom Water formation, which is triggered by the enhanced equatorward sea‐ice transport, ultimately by increased westerlies, in the Southern Ocean at the Last Glacial Maximum.