Sensitivities of the net heat flux into the deep ocean (Q_net) and of the deep-ocean heat content (DOC) below 700 m are studied using an ocean general circulation model and its adjoint. Both are found to have very similar sensitivities. The sensitivity to the surface freshwater flux (E-P-R) is positive in the Atlantic but negative in the Pacific and Southern Ocean. A positive sensitivity to the downward net surface heat flux is found only in the North Atlantic north of 40°N and the Southern Ocean. The diapycnal diffusivity of temperature affects Q_net and DOC positively in a large area of the tropics and subtropics in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The isopycnal diffusivity contributes to Q_net and DOC mainly in the Southern Ocean. Detailed analysis indicates that the surface freshwater flux affects Q_net and DOC by changing vertical velocity, temperature stratification, and overturning circulation. The downward net surface heat flux appears to increase Q_net and DOC by strengthening vertical advection and isopycnal mixing. The contribution of isopycnal diffusivity to Q_net and DOC is largely associated with the vertical heat flux due to isopycnal mixing. Similarly, the diapycnal diffusivity of temperature modulates Q_net and DOC through the downward heat flux due to diapycnal diffusion. The uncertainties of Q_net and DOC are estimated on the basis of the sensitivities and error bars of observed surface forcing and oceanic diffusivities. For DOC they are about 0.7 K (1 K = 3.7 × 10²⁴J) for the isopycnal diffusivity, 0.4 K for the diapycnal diffusivity of temperature, 0.3 K for the surface freshwater flux, and 0.1 K for the net surface heat flux and zonal wind stress. Our results suggest that the heat uptake by ocean general circulation models in climate experiments is sensitive to the isopycnal diffusivity as well to the diapycnal thermal diffusivity.

© 2003 American Geophysical Union