The <scp>A</scp>tlantic <scp>W</scp>ater boundary current north of <scp>S</scp>valbard in late summer

Pérez‐Hernández, M. Dolores; Pickart, Robert S.; Pavlov, Vladimir; Våge, Kjetil; Ingvaldsen, Randi; Sundfjord, Arild; Renner, Angelika; Torres, Daniel J.; Erofeeva, Svetlana

doi:10.1002/2016jc012486

Cited by 44 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…This velocity is larger (about 5 times) than the eddy translational velocities estimated from a high‐resolution ocean model in the AW inflow north of Svalbard in Crews et al () of about 3.5 cm/s. We could expect the eddy translational velocities to be slightly smaller north of Svalbard compared to the WSC as the current is less energetic (current speed about 40 cm/s in the WSC and about 30 cm/s in the AW inflow north of Svalbard, Perez‐Hernandez et al, ). The second lens has slightly different properties compared to the first one: colder (3.21 °C vs. 3.79 °C) and deeper (400 vs. 225 m; Table ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooling and Freshening of the West Spitsbergen Current by Shelf‐Origin Cold Core Lenses

et al. 2018

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The West Spitsbergen Current (WSC) cools and freshens as it flows northward along the western Svalbard shelf. The cooling takes place at the ocean surface through interaction with the atmosphere and also in subsurface. We present observations with high horizontal resolution (around 2 km) from a SeaExplorer glider deployed in July 2017 for 14 days in the WSC offshore Kongsfjorden around 79°N. They document small lenses (less than 10‐km diameter) of cold (less than 3.8 °C) and fresh (less than 35.2 g/kg) waters in the core of the WSC, coming from the shelf and contributing to its cooling and freshening. Data show that water from the shelf cascades to the bottom of the slope and then detaches on the offshore side of the WSC core where it is baroclinically unstable. The presence of these lenses from the shelf can be related to the wind regime. Strong southerly winds cause upwelling of the warm Atlantic Water onto the shelf in winter. Weak and/or northerly winds allow modified Atlantic Water formed by mixing with cold waters on the shelf to cascade down the slope, leading to lenses of colder and fresher water protruding into the WSC. If lenses are common in the WSC, they could be contributing significantly to its cooling and freshening especially in summer when the influence of the atmosphere on the cooling of the WSC is less important.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooling and Freshening of the West Spitsbergen Current by Shelf‐Origin Cold Core Lenses

et al. 2018

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“…Another estimate of AW volume transport through the A‐TWAIN section calculated from hydrographic measurements collected in September 2012 by Våge et al () amounts to 1.6 Sv. Note that Pérez‐Hernández et al () and Våge et al () use a slightly different definition of AW than ours. The available measurements north of Svalbard are still too short in time, and Long‐term measurements are necessary for reliable comparisons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eddy‐Resolving Simulation of the Atlantic Water Circulation in the Fram Strait With Focus on the Seasonal Cycle

et al. 2017

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Eddy driven recirculation of Atlantic Water (AW) in the Fram Strait modifies the amount of heat that reaches the Arctic Ocean, but is difficult to constrain in ocean models due to very small Rossby radius there. In this study, we explore the effect of resolved eddies on the AW circulation in a locally eddy‐resolving simulation of the global Finite‐Element‐Sea ice‐Ocean Model (FESOM) integrated for the years 2000–2009, by focusing on the seasonal cycle. An eddy‐permitting simulation serves as a control run. Our results suggest that resolving local eddy dynamics is critical to realistically simulate ocean dynamics in the Fram Strait. Strong eddy activity simulated by the eddy‐resolving model, with peak in winter and lower values in summer, is comparable in magnitude and seasonal cycle to observations from a long‐term mooring array, whereas the eddy‐permitting simulation underestimates the observed magnitude. Furthermore, a strong cold bias in the central Fram Strait present in the eddy‐permitting simulation is reduced due to resolved eddy dynamics, and AW transport into the Arctic Ocean is increased with possible implications for the Arctic Ocean heat budget. Given the good agreement between the eddy‐resolving model and measurements, it can help filling gaps that point‐wise observations inevitably leave. For example, the path of the West Spitsbergen Current offshore branch, measured in the winter months by the mooring array, is shown to continue cyclonically around the Molloy Deep in the model, representing the major AW recirculation branch in this season.

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“…Recent weakening of the halocline has reduced sea ice growth in parts of the Arctic, indicating AW will play a greater role in Arctic climate dynamics in the future (Polyakov et al, ). Mesoscale eddy formation has been suggested as a potential mechanism through which boundary current‐to‐basin transport is accomplished in the AW inflow area (Pérez‐Hernández et al, ; Våge et al, ), but the importance of this process is not well constrained.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Models indicate that eddies form from the WSC west of Svalbard and on the western slope of the Yermak Plateau (Hattermann et al, ), and some of these eddies migrate as far west as the East Greenland Current (Hattermann et al, ). The boundary current north of Svalbard is thought to take the form of a baroclinic jet (Pnyushkov et al, ), and Pérez‐Hernández et al () showed the current to be baroclinically unstable in an autumn survey. Several authors document eddies forming north of Svalbard and suggest that such eddies may not be uncommon (Pérez‐Hernández et al, ; Våge et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The boundary current north of Svalbard is thought to take the form of a baroclinic jet (Pnyushkov et al, ), and Pérez‐Hernández et al () showed the current to be baroclinically unstable in an autumn survey. Several authors document eddies forming north of Svalbard and suggest that such eddies may not be uncommon (Pérez‐Hernández et al, ; Våge et al, ). Observations of Atlantic‐origin eddies in the Arctic basins remain rare (for examples of Atlantic‐origin eddies see D'Asaro (; n = 2 in Candian Basin) and Zhao et al (; n = 5 boundary current eddies in Eurasian and Canadian Basins).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mesoscale Eddy Activity and Transport in the Atlantic Water Inflow Region North of Svalbard

et al. 2018

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Mesoscale eddies are known to transport heat and biogeochemical properties from Arctic Ocean boundary currents to basin interiors. Previous hydrographic surveys and model results suggest that eddy formation may be common in the Atlantic Water (AW) inflow area north of Svalbard, but no quantitative eddy survey has yet been done for the region. Here vorticity and water property signatures are used to identify and track AW eddies in an eddy‐resolving sea ice‐ocean model. The boundary current sheds AW eddies along most of the length of the continental slope considered, from the western Yermak Plateau to 40°E, though eddies forming east of 20°E are likely more important for slope‐to‐basin transport. Eddy formation seasonality reflects seasonal stability properties of the boundary current in the eastern portion of the study domain, but on and immediately east of the Yermak Plateau enhanced eddy formation during summer merits further investigation. AW eddies tend to be anticyclonic, have radii close to the local deformation radius, and be centered in the halocline. They transport roughly 0.16 Sv of AW and, due to their warm cores, 1.0 TW away from the boundary current. These findings suggest eddies may be important for halocline ventilation in the Eurasian Basin, as has been shown for Pacific Water eddies in the Canadian Basin.

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The Atlantic Water boundary current north of Svalbard in late summer

Cited by 44 publications

References 70 publications

Cooling and Freshening of the West Spitsbergen Current by Shelf‐Origin Cold Core Lenses

Cooling and Freshening of the West Spitsbergen Current by Shelf‐Origin Cold Core Lenses

Eddy‐Resolving Simulation of the Atlantic Water Circulation in the Fram Strait With Focus on the Seasonal Cycle

Mesoscale Eddy Activity and Transport in the Atlantic Water Inflow Region North of Svalbard

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