Spatial Variability of the Frontal Zones and its Eddies Generated in the Norwegian Sea
The Norwegian Sea is the meeting place of warm and salty Atlantic waters with cold and fresh Arctic waters. The thermal and haline frontal zones (FZs) formed as a result of this interaction are areas of increased horizontal gradients of physical, chemical, and biological parameters, and have a signi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Russian Academy of Sciences, The Geophysical Center
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Russian Journal of Earth Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.2205/2023es000844 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850074471713472512 |
|---|---|
| author | Travkin Vladimir Stanislavovich Akhtyamova Avelina |
| author_facet | Travkin Vladimir Stanislavovich Akhtyamova Avelina |
| author_sort | Travkin Vladimir Stanislavovich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Norwegian Sea is the meeting place of warm and salty Atlantic waters with cold and fresh Arctic waters. The thermal and haline frontal zones (FZs) formed as a result of this interaction are areas of increased horizontal gradients of physical, chemical, and biological parameters, and have a significant impact on regional circulation. Many mesoscale eddies are generated in the FZs which are actively involved in the eddy dynamics of the Norwegian Sea. The aim of this work is to analyze the spatio-temporal variability of the vertical structure of FZs in the Norwegian Sea, as well as the eddies that form within their boundaries. The work uses data from the oceanic reanalysis GLORYS12V1, as well as the Atlas of Mesoscale Eddies “Mesoscale Eddy Trajectory Atlas product META 3.2 DT” for the period 1993–2021. We analyze the average depth and thickness of FZs, the vertical distribution of their thermohaline gradients and areas. The work examines the seasonal and interannual variability of the volumes of thermal and haline FZs, the seasonal and interannual variability of mesoscale eddies, their spatial distribution, trajectories, and main parameters. In some areas, deepening of FZs has been established, and their thickness can reach 900 m. The presence of significant haline gradients in the layer of 250–750 m has been found, while thermal FZs can be traced vertically up to 1000 m compared with haline FZs. In some FZs, the interannual variability may exceed the seasonal one. The greatest variability of haline FZs can be traced in the autumn period, and the smallest – in the winter–spring. It is noticeable in the summer period that thermal FZs weaken. Eddies can leave the boundaries of the FZs and move away from the place of origin for hundreds of kilometers. The number and lifetime of cyclones exceed similar estimates for anticyclones, while anticyclones travel long distances compared to cyclones. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79594ee7345b41f0a99ecb9bce4fb2c8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1681-1208 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Russian Academy of Sciences, The Geophysical Center |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Russian Journal of Earth Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-79594ee7345b41f0a99ecb9bce4fb2c82025-08-20T02:46:35ZengRussian Academy of Sciences, The Geophysical CenterRussian Journal of Earth Sciences1681-12082023-08-0123311410.2205/2023es000844Spatial Variability of the Frontal Zones and its Eddies Generated in the Norwegian SeaTravkin Vladimir Stanislavovich0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7254-9313Akhtyamova Avelina1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5447-7654Sankt-Peterburgskiy gosudarstvennyy universitetSaint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, RussiaThe Norwegian Sea is the meeting place of warm and salty Atlantic waters with cold and fresh Arctic waters. The thermal and haline frontal zones (FZs) formed as a result of this interaction are areas of increased horizontal gradients of physical, chemical, and biological parameters, and have a significant impact on regional circulation. Many mesoscale eddies are generated in the FZs which are actively involved in the eddy dynamics of the Norwegian Sea. The aim of this work is to analyze the spatio-temporal variability of the vertical structure of FZs in the Norwegian Sea, as well as the eddies that form within their boundaries. The work uses data from the oceanic reanalysis GLORYS12V1, as well as the Atlas of Mesoscale Eddies “Mesoscale Eddy Trajectory Atlas product META 3.2 DT” for the period 1993–2021. We analyze the average depth and thickness of FZs, the vertical distribution of their thermohaline gradients and areas. The work examines the seasonal and interannual variability of the volumes of thermal and haline FZs, the seasonal and interannual variability of mesoscale eddies, their spatial distribution, trajectories, and main parameters. In some areas, deepening of FZs has been established, and their thickness can reach 900 m. The presence of significant haline gradients in the layer of 250–750 m has been found, while thermal FZs can be traced vertically up to 1000 m compared with haline FZs. In some FZs, the interannual variability may exceed the seasonal one. The greatest variability of haline FZs can be traced in the autumn period, and the smallest – in the winter–spring. It is noticeable in the summer period that thermal FZs weaken. Eddies can leave the boundaries of the FZs and move away from the place of origin for hundreds of kilometers. The number and lifetime of cyclones exceed similar estimates for anticyclones, while anticyclones travel long distances compared to cyclones.http://doi.org/10.2205/2023es000844frontal zones mesoscale eddies Norwegian sea GLORYS12V1 META |
| spellingShingle | Travkin Vladimir Stanislavovich Akhtyamova Avelina Spatial Variability of the Frontal Zones and its Eddies Generated in the Norwegian Sea Russian Journal of Earth Sciences frontal zones mesoscale eddies Norwegian sea GLORYS12V1 META |
| title | Spatial Variability of the Frontal Zones and its Eddies Generated in the Norwegian Sea |
| title_full | Spatial Variability of the Frontal Zones and its Eddies Generated in the Norwegian Sea |
| title_fullStr | Spatial Variability of the Frontal Zones and its Eddies Generated in the Norwegian Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial Variability of the Frontal Zones and its Eddies Generated in the Norwegian Sea |
| title_short | Spatial Variability of the Frontal Zones and its Eddies Generated in the Norwegian Sea |
| title_sort | spatial variability of the frontal zones and its eddies generated in the norwegian sea |
| topic | frontal zones mesoscale eddies Norwegian sea GLORYS12V1 META |
| url | http://doi.org/10.2205/2023es000844 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT travkinvladimirstanislavovich spatialvariabilityofthefrontalzonesanditseddiesgeneratedinthenorwegiansea AT akhtyamovaavelina spatialvariabilityofthefrontalzonesanditseddiesgeneratedinthenorwegiansea |