Cooling and Sinking of the Atlantic Water in the Eurasian Basin Since 1990s
Abstract Atlantic Water (AW) is the primary oceanic heat source for the Arctic Ocean and provides significant heat for sea ice melting. Despite recent Arctic Ocean warming being a hot topic of discussion, we find that the AW core has been cooling and sinking in the Eurasian Basin according to observ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114720 |
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| author | Bin Kong Libao Gao Shizhu Wang Guijun Guo |
| author_facet | Bin Kong Libao Gao Shizhu Wang Guijun Guo |
| author_sort | Bin Kong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Atlantic Water (AW) is the primary oceanic heat source for the Arctic Ocean and provides significant heat for sea ice melting. Despite recent Arctic Ocean warming being a hot topic of discussion, we find that the AW core has been cooling and sinking in the Eurasian Basin according to observational data from the past three decades. This phenomenon can be attributed to the volume decrease and salinity increase of the Fram Strait inflow. Specifically, the Fram Strait inflow has decreased in volume by 28% (0.32 Sv/decade, responsible for AW cooling), while its salinity has increased (∼0.1 psu, resulting in the AW sinking by several tens of meters) over recent decades. Diminished Fram Strait inflow reduced the oceanic heat entering the Eurasian Basin, resulting in a lower heat content in the AW layer and potentially reducing upward heat transport, thereby contributing to the recent moderation of sea ice melting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a74498bce4dc44cd8f373c3148069407 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-a74498bce4dc44cd8f373c31480694072025-08-20T03:12:53ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-05-01529n/an/a10.1029/2025GL114720Cooling and Sinking of the Atlantic Water in the Eurasian Basin Since 1990sBin Kong0Libao Gao1Shizhu Wang2Guijun Guo3Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling First Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources Qingdao ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling First Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources Qingdao ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling First Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources Qingdao ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling First Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources Qingdao ChinaAbstract Atlantic Water (AW) is the primary oceanic heat source for the Arctic Ocean and provides significant heat for sea ice melting. Despite recent Arctic Ocean warming being a hot topic of discussion, we find that the AW core has been cooling and sinking in the Eurasian Basin according to observational data from the past three decades. This phenomenon can be attributed to the volume decrease and salinity increase of the Fram Strait inflow. Specifically, the Fram Strait inflow has decreased in volume by 28% (0.32 Sv/decade, responsible for AW cooling), while its salinity has increased (∼0.1 psu, resulting in the AW sinking by several tens of meters) over recent decades. Diminished Fram Strait inflow reduced the oceanic heat entering the Eurasian Basin, resulting in a lower heat content in the AW layer and potentially reducing upward heat transport, thereby contributing to the recent moderation of sea ice melting.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114720Atlantic watercooling and sinkinginflow changesArctic Ocean |
| spellingShingle | Bin Kong Libao Gao Shizhu Wang Guijun Guo Cooling and Sinking of the Atlantic Water in the Eurasian Basin Since 1990s Geophysical Research Letters Atlantic water cooling and sinking inflow changes Arctic Ocean |
| title | Cooling and Sinking of the Atlantic Water in the Eurasian Basin Since 1990s |
| title_full | Cooling and Sinking of the Atlantic Water in the Eurasian Basin Since 1990s |
| title_fullStr | Cooling and Sinking of the Atlantic Water in the Eurasian Basin Since 1990s |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cooling and Sinking of the Atlantic Water in the Eurasian Basin Since 1990s |
| title_short | Cooling and Sinking of the Atlantic Water in the Eurasian Basin Since 1990s |
| title_sort | cooling and sinking of the atlantic water in the eurasian basin since 1990s |
| topic | Atlantic water cooling and sinking inflow changes Arctic Ocean |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114720 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT binkong coolingandsinkingoftheatlanticwaterintheeurasianbasinsince1990s AT libaogao coolingandsinkingoftheatlanticwaterintheeurasianbasinsince1990s AT shizhuwang coolingandsinkingoftheatlanticwaterintheeurasianbasinsince1990s AT guijunguo coolingandsinkingoftheatlanticwaterintheeurasianbasinsince1990s |