Role of Greenland Sea Gyre Circulation on Atlantic Water Temperature Variability in the Fram Strait

Abstract Atlantic Water (AW) transported from the Nordic Seas is the major source of oceanic heat to the Arctic Ocean. Based on results from the TOPAZ reanalysis, a regional coupled ice‐ocean data assimilation system, we show that interannual variability of AW temperature in the Fram Strait (FS) is...

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Main Authors: Sourav Chatterjee, Roshin P. Raj, L. Bertino, Ø. Skagseth, M. Ravichandran, Ola M. Johannessen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-08-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL079174
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author Sourav Chatterjee
Roshin P. Raj
L. Bertino
Ø. Skagseth
M. Ravichandran
Ola M. Johannessen
author_facet Sourav Chatterjee
Roshin P. Raj
L. Bertino
Ø. Skagseth
M. Ravichandran
Ola M. Johannessen
author_sort Sourav Chatterjee
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Atlantic Water (AW) transported from the Nordic Seas is the major source of oceanic heat to the Arctic Ocean. Based on results from the TOPAZ reanalysis, a regional coupled ice‐ocean data assimilation system, we show that interannual variability of AW temperature in the Fram Strait (FS) is associated with the strength of the Greenland Sea gyre (GSG) circulation. The response of the GSG to the anomalous wind stress curl over the Nordic Seas modifies the AW inflow and thus influences the variability of AW temperature in the FS. A stronger (weaker) GSG circulation increases (decreases) the AW flow speed toward FS, leading to increased (decreased) oceanic heat content and higher (lower) AW temperature therein. This implies that the Nordic Seas circulation is not only a passive conduit of AW, but its response to overlying atmospheric variability can also largely influence the AW temperature in the FS by modifying the transport of AW.
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-59d16e6dfd044d95b3d7f4925bfafb402025-08-20T02:46:20ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072018-08-0145168399840610.1029/2018GL079174Role of Greenland Sea Gyre Circulation on Atlantic Water Temperature Variability in the Fram StraitSourav Chatterjee0Roshin P. Raj1L. Bertino2Ø. Skagseth3M. Ravichandran4Ola M. Johannessen5National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research Vasco‐da‐Gama IndiaNansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center Bergen NorwayNansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center Bergen NorwayBjerknes Center for Climate Research Bergen NorwayNational Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research Vasco‐da‐Gama IndiaNansen Scientific Society Bergen NorwayAbstract Atlantic Water (AW) transported from the Nordic Seas is the major source of oceanic heat to the Arctic Ocean. Based on results from the TOPAZ reanalysis, a regional coupled ice‐ocean data assimilation system, we show that interannual variability of AW temperature in the Fram Strait (FS) is associated with the strength of the Greenland Sea gyre (GSG) circulation. The response of the GSG to the anomalous wind stress curl over the Nordic Seas modifies the AW inflow and thus influences the variability of AW temperature in the FS. A stronger (weaker) GSG circulation increases (decreases) the AW flow speed toward FS, leading to increased (decreased) oceanic heat content and higher (lower) AW temperature therein. This implies that the Nordic Seas circulation is not only a passive conduit of AW, but its response to overlying atmospheric variability can also largely influence the AW temperature in the FS by modifying the transport of AW.https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL079174Fram StraitAtlantic WaterGreenland Sea gyreatmospheric forcing
spellingShingle Sourav Chatterjee
Roshin P. Raj
L. Bertino
Ø. Skagseth
M. Ravichandran
Ola M. Johannessen
Role of Greenland Sea Gyre Circulation on Atlantic Water Temperature Variability in the Fram Strait
Geophysical Research Letters
Fram Strait
Atlantic Water
Greenland Sea gyre
atmospheric forcing
title Role of Greenland Sea Gyre Circulation on Atlantic Water Temperature Variability in the Fram Strait
title_full Role of Greenland Sea Gyre Circulation on Atlantic Water Temperature Variability in the Fram Strait
title_fullStr Role of Greenland Sea Gyre Circulation on Atlantic Water Temperature Variability in the Fram Strait
title_full_unstemmed Role of Greenland Sea Gyre Circulation on Atlantic Water Temperature Variability in the Fram Strait
title_short Role of Greenland Sea Gyre Circulation on Atlantic Water Temperature Variability in the Fram Strait
title_sort role of greenland sea gyre circulation on atlantic water temperature variability in the fram strait
topic Fram Strait
Atlantic Water
Greenland Sea gyre
atmospheric forcing
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL079174
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