Oxygen 18-salinity relationship simulated by an oceanic general circulation model

The distribution of (H2O)-O-18 in the ocean is simulated using an oceanic g eneral circulation model (GCM). Surface isotopic fluxes prescribed to this model are derived from an atmospheric GCM, which ensures their consistency. The oceanic GCM is initialized with a homogeneous composition, and redistr ibutes isotopic gradients so as to equilibrate with the atmosphere. A good agreement is found between the observations and the simulation concerning ( i) the interbasin (H2O)-O-18 gradients, especially the Atlantic being more enriched than the Pacific, as well as the meridional gradients; and (ii) th e (H2O)-O-18-salinity relationship. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.