Observed and modeled MOC related flow into the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean [Elektronische Ressource] / von Kerstin Kirchner

Observed and modeled MOC related flow into theCaribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean Kerstin Kirchner Universität Bremen, 2007 Observed and modeled MOC related flow into theCaribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean vom Fachbereich für Physik und Elektrotechnik der Universität Bremen zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktor der Naturwissenschaften (Dr. rer. nat) genehmigte Dissertation vonDipl. Oz. Kerstin Kirchner aus Hamburg 1. Gutachterin: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Monika Rhein 2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Claus W. Böning Eingereicht am: 24.09.2007 Tag des Promotionskolloquiums: 19.11.2007 AbstractThe transport of South Atlantic Water (SAW) into the northern hemisphere is inves-tigated in this work. This flow represents the warm upper branch of the MeridionalOverturning Circulation (MOC) and thus has a direct influence on the global heat bud-get. This part of the MOC is difficult to observe since the wind driven subtropical gyresand the complex equatorial current system interact with the SAW flow. The area nearthe Lesser Antilles is one of the sparse locations suitable to directly observe the principalpart of the net SAW flow.