The East Greenland Current north of Denmark Strait
ABSTRACT. Direct current measurements and studies of the temperature distri-bution in the Greenland Sea indicate that while the Polar Water of the East Green-land Current originates in the Arctic Ocean, the intermediate and deep water masses circulate cyclonically, There are systematic seasonal chan...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1968
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.490.2616 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic21-4-267.pdf |
| Summary: | ABSTRACT. Direct current measurements and studies of the temperature distri-bution in the Greenland Sea indicate that while the Polar Water of the East Green-land Current originates in the Arctic Ocean, the intermediate and deep water masses circulate cyclonically, There are systematic seasonal changes in the tem-perature and salinity of the Polar Water. These changes are associated with the annual cycle of freezing and melting of ice; they are conditioned by horizontal advection, vertical turbulent diffusion, and in winter by penetrative convection. During summer there is a pronounced baroclinic tendency which should be mani-fested by a decrease in current speed with depth. However, direct current measure-ments during winter show that there is no such variation. The most likely cause of this discrepancy is that the relative importance of the baroclinic contribution to the pressure gradient varies seasonally. Lateral water mass displacements of 70 km. or more within a few days have been observed at all depths within the East Green-land Current, suggesting a large-scale barotropic disturbance as a primary cause. R&UMÉ. Le courant de l'est du Groenland, au nord du Détroit de Danemark. |
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