A Three‐Way Balance in the Beaufort Gyre: The Ice‐Ocean Governor, Wind Stress, and Eddy Diffusivity

Doddridge, Edward W.; Meneghello, Gianluca; Marshall, John; Scott, J.W.; Lique, Camille

doi:10.1029/2018jc014897

Cited by 36 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…In previous studies, the stability of the BG has also been linked to the mesoscale eddy activity (e.g., Doddridge et al, ; Manucharyan & Spall, ; Manucharyan et al, ). Therefore, we propose that model horizontal resolution does play an important role in simulation of the BG freshwater system.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Pacific Water Pathway in the Arctic Ocean and Beaufort Gyre in Two Simulations With Different Horizontal Resolutions

Myers

2019

JGR Oceans

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A set of numerical simulations (with horizontal resolutions of 1/4° and 1/12°) is conducted to study the Pacific Water pathway in the Arctic Ocean and the freshwater content in Beaufort Gyre. Passive tracer tags the Pacific Water entering through Bering Strait into the Arctic Ocean and further reveals its circulation routes and spatial distribution. Both the 1/4° and 1/12° simulations show Pacific Water mainly follows the Transpolar Drift over the integration period of 2002–2016, with a limited amount being able to flow eastward along the Alaskan coast to enter the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. However, the circulation pattern of Pacific Water within the Beaufort Gyre is quite different with a stronger and tighter anticyclonic circulation in the 1/12° simulation corresponding to the difference in freshwater content. The 1/12° simulation successfully reproduces the overall recent increasing trend in the freshwater content in the Beaufort Gyre, while the 1/4° simulation fails to maintain the high freshwater content state after 2007. Budget analysis suggests that this difference in Beaufort Gyre freshwater storage is mainly caused by lateral advection. The lateral freshwater flux is decomposed into two components due to the slow‐varying circulation and mesoscale eddies. The difference in the capability to resolve eddies in the two simulations causes the difference in the temporal evolution of both components of the lateral flux.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Pacific Water Pathway in the Arctic Ocean and Beaufort Gyre in Two Simulations With Different Horizontal Resolutions

Myers

2019

JGR Oceans

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“…Over this period, the magnitude of stress curl at the ocean surface increases, leading to maximum downwelling in October (Figure f). This interplay between wind forcing, ice motion, oceanic circulation, and eddies (dissipating available potential energy in the gyre) in the Beaufort Gyre region was recently named “the ice‐ocean governor” (a reference to the regulating effect of sea‐ice on the wind‐driven spin‐up of the gyre), described and tested via theoretical and idealized modeling (Doddridge et al, ; Meneghello et al, ; Wang et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the average rate of fresh water accumulation was 397±116 km 3 /a, the freshwater content growth was not uniform due to changes in wind, sea ice conditions, and ocean geostrophic currents. The ocean circulation played a flywheel role regulating momentum transfer from wind to the ocean (moderated by sea ice conditions), effectively damping disturbances in external forcing and stabilizing freshwater content (e.g., Dewey et al, ; Doddridge et al, ; Meneghello et al, , ; Zhong et al, ).…”

Section: Freshwater Content Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the Beaufort Gyre Freshwater Content in 2003–2018

et al. 2019

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Hydrographic data collected from research cruises, bottom-anchored moorings, driftingIce-Tethered Profilers, and satellite altimetry in the Beaufort Gyre region of the Arctic Ocean document an increase of more than 6,400 km 3 of liquid freshwater content from 2003 to 2018: a 40% growth relative to the climatology of the 1970s. This fresh water accumulation is shown to result from persistent anticyclonic atmospheric wind forcing accompanied by sea ice melt, a wind-forced redirection of Mackenzie River discharge from predominantly eastward to westward flow, and a contribution of low salinity waters of Pacific Ocean origin via Bering Strait. Despite significant uncertainties in the different observations, this study has demonstrated the synergistic value of having multiple diverse datasets to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of Beaufort Gyre freshwater content variability. For example, Beaufort Gyre Observational System (BGOS) surveys clearly show the interannual increase in freshwater content, but without satellite or Ice-Tethered Profiler measurements, it is not possible to resolve the seasonal cycle of freshwater content, which in fact is larger than the year-to-year variability, or the more subtle interannual variations. Plain Language AbstractThe Beaufort Gyre centered in the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean is the major reservoir of fresh water in the Arctic. The primary focus of this study is on quantifying variability and trends in liquid (water) and solid (sea ice) freshwater content in this region. The Beaufort Gyre Exploration Program was initiated in 2003 to synthesize results of historical data analysis, design and conduct long-term observations, and to provide information for numerical modeling under the umbrella of the FAMOS (Forum for Arctic Observing and Modeling Synthesis) project. The data collected from research cruises, moorings, Ice-Tethered Profiler observations, and satellite altimetry document an increase of more than 6,400 km 3 of liquid freshwater content from 2003 to 2018, a 40% growth relative to the climatology of the 1970s. This fresh water volume is comparable to the fresh water volume released to the sub-arctic seas during the Great Salinity Anomaly episode of the 1970s. Thus, since the 2000s, the stage has been set for another possible release of fresh water to lower latitudes with accompanying climate impacts, including changes to sea ice conditions, ocean circulation, and ecosystems of the Sub-Arctic similar to the influence of the Great Salinity Anomaly observed in the 1970s.

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“…Manucharyan and Isachsen () employ an idealized eddy‐resolving model and theoretical formalism to demonstrate that a reduction in diffusivity over continental slopes affects key gyre characteristics and prolongs equilibration. Also in this special collection, Doddridge et al () theorize that Beaufort Gyre equilibrium is maintained by a balance between the negative feedback between surface currents and ice‐ocean stress, wind stress, and eddy diffusivity. Zhao and Timmermans () investigate dynamics of topographic Rossby waves and speculate that their activity is accompanied by kinetic energy dissipation, which plays a role in Beaufort Gyre stabilization.…”

Section: Beaufort Gyre Phenomenon: Multicomponent System Mechanisms Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Introduction to Special Collection on Arctic Ocean Modeling and Observational Synthesis (FAMOS) 2: Beaufort Gyre Phenomenon

2020

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One of the foci of the Forum for Artic Modeling and Observational Synthesis (FAMOS) project is improving Arctic regional ice‐ocean models and understanding of physical processes regulating variability of Arctic environmental conditions based on synthesis of observations and model results. The Beaufort Gyre, centered in the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean, is an ideal phenomenon and natural laboratory for application of FAMOS modeling capabilities to resolve numerous scientific questions related to the origin and variability of this climatologic freshwater reservoir and flywheel of the Arctic Ocean. The unprecedented volume of data collected in this region is nearly optimal to describe the state and changes in the Beaufort Gyre environmental system at synoptic, seasonal, and interannual time scales. The in situ and remote sensing data characterizing ocean hydrography, sea surface heights, ice drift, concentration and thickness, ocean circulation, and biogeochemistry have been used for model calibration and validation or assimilated for historic reconstructions and establishing initial conditions for numerical predictions. This special collection of studies contributes time series of the Beaufort Gyre data; new methodologies in observing, modeling, and analysis; interpretation of measurements and model output; and discussions and findings that shed light on the mechanisms regulating Beaufort Gyre dynamics as it transitions to a new state under different climate forcing.

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A Three‐Way Balance in the Beaufort Gyre: The Ice‐Ocean Governor, Wind Stress, and Eddy Diffusivity

Cited by 36 publications

References 60 publications

Pacific Water Pathway in the Arctic Ocean and Beaufort Gyre in Two Simulations With Different Horizontal Resolutions

Pacific Water Pathway in the Arctic Ocean and Beaufort Gyre in Two Simulations With Different Horizontal Resolutions

Analysis of the Beaufort Gyre Freshwater Content in 2003–2018

Introduction to Special Collection on Arctic Ocean Modeling and Observational Synthesis (FAMOS) 2: Beaufort Gyre Phenomenon

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