Interannual variations of water mass properties and volumes in the Southern Ocean

• Main Authors: Tomczak, M., Liefrink, S.
• Other Authors: School of Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2006
• Subjects: [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean; Atmosphere; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00298375; https://hal.science/hal-00298375/document; https://hal.science/hal-00298375/file/osd-3-199-2006.pdf

International audience Time-resolving optimum multi-parameter (TROMP) analysis is used to study interannual variability of water mass properties in the Southern Ocean in a section between Antarctica and Tasmania for the period 1991?1996. Water mass properties were stable during 1994?1996 but showed departures from their 1994-1996 values during 1991 and 1993. TROMP analysis is unable to quantify the interannual variation in detail, but it is shown that interannual variability does not invalidate the findings of a previous study that was based on the assumption of time-invariable water mass properties and suggested large interannual fluctuations in the water mass volumes south of Tasmania.