Inverse Modelling of the Glacial Atlantic Circulation System: Investigation of Data Requirements

A series of model experiments to investigate the data requirements of an inverse model of the Atlantic is described. Results of a first attempt to reconstruct the circulation system of the Atlantic for the last glacial maximum (about 20,000 B. P.) are shown. The amount of data used is quite small compared with an application to the present day Atlantic, for which the model was originally developed. Although the results reflect the difficult data situation, some features of the flow field of the glacial Atlantic are recovered. With some extensions the inverse modelling approach seems to be very promising.