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

• Main Authors: Tomczak, M., Liefrink, S.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/osd-3-199-2006; https://os.copernicus.org/preprints/osd-2006-0020/

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.