Loading...
Please wait, while we are loading the content...
Similar Documents
Circulation of Paci fi c Winter Water in the Western Arctic Ocean
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Zhong, Wenli Steele, Michael Zhang, Jinlun Cole, Sylvia T. |
| Copyright Year | 2019 |
| Abstract | Pacific Winter Water (PWW) enters the western Arctic Ocean from the Chukchi Sea; however, the physical mechanisms that regulate its circulation within the deep basin are still not clear. Here, we investigate the interannual variability of PWWwith a comprehensive data set over a decade. We quantify the thickening and expansion of the PWW layer during 2002–2016, as well as its changing pathway. The total volume of PWW in the Beaufort Gyre (BG) region is estimated to have increased from 3.48 ± 0.04 × 10 m during 2002–2006 to 4.11 ± 0.02 × 10 m during 2011–2016, an increase of 18%. We find that the deepening rate of the lower bound of PWW is almost double that of its upper bound in the northern Canada Basin, a result of lateral flux convergence of PWW (via lateral advection of PWW from the Chukchi Borderland) in addition to the Ekman pumping. In particular, of the 70‐m deepening of PWW at its lower bound observed over 2003–2011 in the northwestern basin, 43% resulted from lateral flux convergence. We also find a redistribution of PWW in recent years toward the Chukchi Borderland associated with the wind‐driven spin‐up and westward shift of the BG. Finally, we hypothesize that a recently observed increase of lower halocline eddies in the BG might be explained by this redistribution, through a compression mechanism over the Chukchi Borderland. Plain Language Summary Pacific Winter Water (PWW) is a deeper freshwater source via subduction in contrast to the wind‐driven Ekman convergence of freshwater in the surface Ekman layer of the western Arctic Ocean. It supplies the western Arctic Ocean with acidifying water. Our study reveals a redistribution of PWW associated with the wind‐driven spin‐up of Beaufort Gyre. The lateral advection of PWW from the Chukchi Borderland to the northern Canada Basin plays an important role in the deepening of PWW lower bound at the edge of Beaufort Gyre. In addition, the total volume of PWWhas increased about 18% over the years 2002–2016. Our findings provide an important implication not only for the physical oceanographer but also for the marine chemists and biologists. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://psc.apl.washington.edu/zhang/Pubs/Zhong_et_al_2019.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
