Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East Antarctica
Abstract Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) transport across the Antarctic continental slope regulates the delivery of heat to the shelf and its availability to melt floating ice shelves. The cross‐slope density field, calculated from profiles collected by conductivity‐temperature‐depth‐tagged marine mamm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082999 |
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| author | Annie Foppert Stephen R. Rintoul Matthew H. England |
| author_facet | Annie Foppert Stephen R. Rintoul Matthew H. England |
| author_sort | Annie Foppert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) transport across the Antarctic continental slope regulates the delivery of heat to the shelf and its availability to melt floating ice shelves. The cross‐slope density field, calculated from profiles collected by conductivity‐temperature‐depth‐tagged marine mammals on the East Antarctic slope (0–160°E, above 1,000‐ to 3,000‐m isobaths), indicates eddy‐driven overturning: onshore transport of CDW and offshore transport of shallower Antarctic Surface Water. Enhanced eddy activity, determined by a spice standard deviation threshold in the CDW layer, is present over about a third of the East Antarctic slope analyzed. Significantly stronger CDW transport in regions of elevated spice variability produces subsurface temperature anomalies of 0.2–0.25 °C relative to the East Antarctic average. Estimating eddy diffusivity from the hydrography yields about 0.8 m2/s of warm CDW transport to the shelf break in high‐variability regions. Variability of eddy‐induced CDW transport influences the reservoir of heat available for transport across the shelf break. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9622e5a15f0b4f4480014bf09ced474d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-9622e5a15f0b4f4480014bf09ced474d2025-08-20T03:44:57ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072019-07-0146148224823310.1029/2019GL082999Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East AntarcticaAnnie Foppert0Stephen R. Rintoul1Matthew H. England2Centre for Southern Hemisphere Oceans Research Hobart Tasmania AustraliaCentre for Southern Hemisphere Oceans Research Hobart Tasmania AustraliaClimate Change Research Centre University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales AustraliaAbstract Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) transport across the Antarctic continental slope regulates the delivery of heat to the shelf and its availability to melt floating ice shelves. The cross‐slope density field, calculated from profiles collected by conductivity‐temperature‐depth‐tagged marine mammals on the East Antarctic slope (0–160°E, above 1,000‐ to 3,000‐m isobaths), indicates eddy‐driven overturning: onshore transport of CDW and offshore transport of shallower Antarctic Surface Water. Enhanced eddy activity, determined by a spice standard deviation threshold in the CDW layer, is present over about a third of the East Antarctic slope analyzed. Significantly stronger CDW transport in regions of elevated spice variability produces subsurface temperature anomalies of 0.2–0.25 °C relative to the East Antarctic average. Estimating eddy diffusivity from the hydrography yields about 0.8 m2/s of warm CDW transport to the shelf break in high‐variability regions. Variability of eddy‐induced CDW transport influences the reservoir of heat available for transport across the shelf break.https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082999eddiescross‐slope exchangeoverturning circulationAntarctic processes |
| spellingShingle | Annie Foppert Stephen R. Rintoul Matthew H. England Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East Antarctica Geophysical Research Letters eddies cross‐slope exchange overturning circulation Antarctic processes |
| title | Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East Antarctica |
| title_full | Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East Antarctica |
| title_fullStr | Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East Antarctica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East Antarctica |
| title_short | Along‐Slope Variability of Cross‐Slope Eddy Transport in East Antarctica |
| title_sort | along slope variability of cross slope eddy transport in east antarctica |
| topic | eddies cross‐slope exchange overturning circulation Antarctic processes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082999 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anniefoppert alongslopevariabilityofcrossslopeeddytransportineastantarctica AT stephenrrintoul alongslopevariabilityofcrossslopeeddytransportineastantarctica AT matthewhengland alongslopevariabilityofcrossslopeeddytransportineastantarctica |