Intensification of the Atlantic Water Supply to the Arctic Ocean Through Fram Strait Induced by Arctic Sea Ice Decline

Substantial changes have occurred in the Arctic Ocean in the last decades. Not only sea ice has retreated significantly, but also the ocean at middepth showed a warming tendency. By using simulations we identified a mechanism that intensifies the upward trend in ocean heat supply to the Arctic Ocean...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wang, Qiang, Wekerle, Claudia, Wang, Xuezhu, Danilov, Sergey, Koldunov, Nikolay, Sein, Dmitry, Sidorenko, Dmitry, Von Appen, Wilken-Jon, Jung, Thomas
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: FID GEO 2020
Subjects:
Arctic
Arctic Ocean
Greenland
Fram Strait
Greenland Sea
Nordic Seas
Sea ice
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.23689/fidgeo-5056
https://e-docs.geo-leo.de/handle/11858/9402
Description
Summary:Substantial changes have occurred in the Arctic Ocean in the last decades. Not only sea ice has retreated significantly, but also the ocean at middepth showed a warming tendency. By using simulations we identified a mechanism that intensifies the upward trend in ocean heat supply to the Arctic Ocean through Fram Strait. The reduction in sea ice export through Fram Strait induced by Arctic sea ice decline increases the salinity in the Greenland Sea, which lowers the sea surface height and strengthens the cyclonic gyre circulation in the Nordic Seas. The Atlantic Water volume transport to the Nordic Seas and Arctic Ocean is consequently strengthened. This enhances the warming trend of the Arctic Atlantic Water layer, potentially contributing to the Arctic “Atlantification.” Our study suggests that the Nordic Seas can play the role of a switchyard to influence the heat budget of the Arctic Ocean.

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