Bryan, K., F. G, Komro, and C. Rooth, 1984: The ocean's transient response to global surface temperature anomalies. In Climate Processes and Climate Sensitivity, Geophysical Monograph 29, Maurice Ewing Volume 5, American Geophysical Union, 29-38.

Abstract: Transient tracers are not perfect analogues for the downward penetration of a heat anomaly associated with climate change. Buoyancy effects associated with a temperature anomaly can significantly alter the stratification and thermohaline circulation. To investigate these effects a three-dimensional model of the world ocean is perturbed by spatially uniform surface anomalies, and the response calculated over a 50 year period. The penetration depth for a negative temperature anomaly of 0.5 degrees C is 25% greater than that for a positive anomaly. The penetration depth is found to be approximately one half the pycnocline depth after 10 years, and one pycnocline depth after 40 years. Both a simple two box model, and a box diffusion model provide a reasonable fit to the globally averaged results of the more general three-dimensional model.