Stability of the arctic halocline: a new indicator of arctic climate change

Polyakov, Igor V.; Pnyushkov, Andrey V.; Carmack, Eddy C.

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aaec1e

Cited by 66 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans in the Beaufort gyre region (Figure 8b). The panarctic values are comparable to those estimated in Polyakov et al (2018). The APE range in the drift area is comparably small (0 to 7 × 10 4 J•m −2 ).…”

Section: 1029/2020jc016204supporting

confidence: 82%

“…Our APE estimates were similar to those of Polyakov et al (2018) in spite of their smaller H halo estimate from using the R ρ = 0.05 criterion. Indeed, if H halo is sensitive to the used criterion, stratification is not, as the most important contributions to APE come from the upper and cold halocline (stratification is weak in LHW).…”

Section: Definition Of the Base Of The Halocline Of Lhw In A Period Osupporting

confidence: 74%

“…We followed Polyakov et al (2018) and computed APE as a measure of the strength of the halocline along the drift. The halocline strength was extremely weak in Nansen Basin as a result of Atlantification.…”

Section: Journal Of Geophysical Research: Oceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The halocline strength, that is, its stratification, shows large interannual and spatial variations (e.g., Bourgain & Gascard, 2011;Polyakov et al, 2018). Nevertheless, trends are clear, and since 1981, there is a contrasted evolution in the strength of the Arctic halocline with an increasing stratification in the Amerasian Basin and a weakening in the Eurasian Basin (Polyakov et al, 2018). These changes are concomitant with the progression of AW signature from the western Eurasian Basin to the eastern Eurasian Basin, called "Atlantification" (Polyakov et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Western Eurasian Basin Halocline in 2017: Insights From Autonomous NO Measurements and the Mercator Physical System

et al. 2020

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We present the first sensor‐based profiles of the quasi‐conservative NO parameter obtained with an autonomous ice‐tethered buoy in the Arctic Ocean. Data documented the halocline in the Transpolar Drift and Nansen Basin in 2017. A NO minimum was found in the Nansen Basin on a σ‐horizon of 27.8 kg·m−3 corresponding to the lower halocline, while a lower NO minimum of 380 μM straddled the 27.4 σ‐horizon and marked the cold halocline in the Transpolar Drift. Back trajectories of water parcels encountered along the buoy drift were computed using the Mercator physical system. They suggested that waters within the NO minimum at 27.4 kg·m−3 could be traced back to the East Siberian Sea continental. These trajectories conformed with the prevailing positive phase of the Arctic Oscillation. The base of the lower halocline, at the 27.85 σ‐horizon, corresponded to the density attained in the deepest winter mixed layer north of Svalbard and cyclonically slowly advected from the slope into the central Nansen Basin. The 27.85 σ‐horizon is associated with an absolute salinity of 34.9 g·kg−1, a significantly more saline level than the 34.3 psu isohaline commonly used to identify the base of the lower halocline. This denser and more saline level is in accordance with the deeper winter mixed layers observed on the slopes of Nansen Basin in the last 10 years. A combination of simulations and NO parameter estimates provided valuable insights into the structure, source, and strength of the Arctic halocline.

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Section: 1029/2020jc016204supporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Definition Of the Base Of The Halocline Of Lhw In A Period Osupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Journal Of Geophysical Research: Oceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Western Eurasian Basin Halocline in 2017: Insights From Autonomous NO Measurements and the Mercator Physical System

et al. 2020

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“…Recently, Polyakov et al (2018) suggested available potential energy which integrates anomalies of potential density from the surface downward through the surface mixed layer to the base of the halocline as an Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 10.1029/2019JC015554…”

Section: Conclusion and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arctic Ocean Surface Energy Flux and the Cold Halocline in Future Climate Projections

2020

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Ocean heat transport is often thought to play a secondary role for Arctic surface warming in part because warm water which flows northward is prevented from reaching the surface by a cold and stable halocline layer. However, recent observations in various regions indicate that occasionally, warm water is found directly below the surface mixed layer. Here we investigate Arctic Ocean surface energy fluxes and the cold halocline layer in climate model simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5. An ensemble of 15 models shows decreased sea ice formation and increased ocean energy release during fall, winter, and spring for a high‐emission future scenario. Along the main pathways for warm water advection, this increased energy release is not locally balanced by increased Arctic Ocean energy uptake in summer. Because during Arctic winter, the ocean mixed layer is mainly heated from below, we analyze changes of the cold halocline layer in the monthly mean Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 data. Fresh water acts to stabilize the upper ocean as expected based on previous studies. We find that in spite of this stabilizing effect, periods in which warm water is found directly or almost directly below the mixed layer and which occur mainly in winter and spring become more frequent in high‐emission future scenario simulations, especially along the main pathways for warm water advection. This could reduce sea ice formation and surface albedo.

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Expanding influence of Atlantic and Pacific ocean heat transport on Arctic winter sea ice variability

Dörr

Årthun

Eldevik

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The general retreat of Arctic sea ice is overlaid by large year-to-year variability. In winter, sea ice loss and variability are currently most pronounced in the Barents Sea, primarily due to variable ocean heat transport from the Atlantic. As the loss of winter Arctic sea ice is expected to continue and the sea ice edge retreats deeper into the Arctic Ocean, other regions will experience increased sea-ice variability until essentially ice-free. However, it remains to be established to what extent future winter sea ice loss beyond the Barents Sea is facilitated by ocean heat transport. To answer this question, we analyze and contrast the present and future regional impact of Pacific and Atlantic ocean heat transport on the winter Arctic sea ice cover using simulations from seven single-model large ensembles. We find strong model agreement for an expanding influence of ocean heat transport through the Bering Strait and the Barents Sea under continued sea ice retreat. Model differences can be related to mean volume transport and inflow temperature, mean sea ice state, and upper ocean stratification. Our work highlights the increasing importance of the Pacific and Atlantic water inflows to the Arctic Ocean and indicates that their future influence regions will be separated by the Lomonosov Ridge.

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Stability of the arctic halocline: a new indicator of arctic climate change

Cited by 66 publications

References 13 publications

The Western Eurasian Basin Halocline in 2017: Insights From Autonomous NO Measurements and the Mercator Physical System

The Western Eurasian Basin Halocline in 2017: Insights From Autonomous NO Measurements and the Mercator Physical System

Arctic Ocean Surface Energy Flux and the Cold Halocline in Future Climate Projections

Expanding influence of Atlantic and Pacific ocean heat transport on Arctic winter sea ice variability

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