A modelling perspective of North Pacific Intermediate water in the future

North Pacific Intermediate water (NPIW) is a dominant water mass controlling ~400-1200m depth North Pacific Ocean, characterized by its low salinities and relatively lower temperatures. In the modern climate, the interplay between NPIW-related physical and biogeochemical processes among seasons determines annual-mean budget and efficiency of carbon sink into the North Pacific Ocean. Thus, to understand the NPIW physics is key to project roles of the North Pacific Ocean in changing Earth climate and carbon systems in the future. In this study, we provide a modelling view of the NPIW history since Yr 1850 (historical experiment) and its projection to near future (IPCC-defined RCP 4.2 and 8.5 experiments until Yr 2100), using new-generation Alfred Wegener Institute Earth System Model (AWI-ESM). Our results suggest an important role of regional hydroclimate feedback over the NW Pacific and Sea of Okhotsk in determining the NPIW from recent past to near future.