Geographical inhomogeneity and temporal variability of mixing property and driving mechanism in the Arctic Ocean

Upper ocean mixing plays a key role in the atmosphere-ocean heat transfer and sea ice extent and thickness via modulating the upper ocean temperatures in the Arctic Ocean. Observations of diffusivities in the Arctic that directly indicate the ocean mixing properties are sparse. Therefore, the spatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Oceanology and Limnology
Main Authors: You, Jia, Xu, Zhenhua, Robertson, Robin, Li, Qun, Yin, Baoshu
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: SCIENCE PRESS 2022
Subjects:
mixing
the Arctic Ocean
near-inertial waves
stratification
heat flux
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Oceanography
Limnology
INTERNAL WAVE-FIELD
SEA-ICE LOSS
CANADA BASIN
VERTICAL DIFFUSION
HEAT FLUXES
TIDES
HALOCLINE
WIND
DISSIPATION
BEAUFORT
Arctic
Arctic Ocean
Canada
Pacific
canada basin
Sea ice
Online Access:http://ir.qdio.ac.cn/handle/337002/178623
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-021-1037-6
Description
Summary:Upper ocean mixing plays a key role in the atmosphere-ocean heat transfer and sea ice extent and thickness via modulating the upper ocean temperatures in the Arctic Ocean. Observations of diffusivities in the Arctic that directly indicate the ocean mixing properties are sparse. Therefore, the spatiotemporal pattern and magnitude of diapycnal diffusivities and kinetic energy dissipation rates in the upper Arctic Ocean are important for atmosphere-ocean heat transfers and sea ice changes. These were first estimated from the Ice-Tethered Profilers dataset (2005-2019) using a strain-based fine-scale parameterization. The resultant mixing properties showed significant geographical inhomogeneity and temporal variability. Diapycnal diffusivities and dissipation rates in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean were stronger than those on the Pacific side. Mixing in the Atlantic sector increased significantly during the observation period; whereas in the Pacific sector, it weakened before 2011 and then strengthened. Potential impact factors include wind, sea ice, near inertial waves, and stratification, while their relative contributions vary between the two sectors of the Arctic Ocean. In the Atlantic sector, turbulent mixing dominated, while in the Pacific sector, turbulent mixing was inhibited by strong stratification prior to 2011, and is able to overcome the stratification gradually after 2014. The vertical turbulent heat flux constantly increased in the Atlantic sector year by year, while it decreased in the Pacific sector post 2010. The estimated heat flux variability induced by enhanced turbulent mixing is expected to continue to diminish sea ice in the near future.

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