A quantitative description of the Norwegian Atlantic Current by combining altimetry and hydrography
In this study, we quantified the mean flow and the variability in the Norwegian Atlantic Current (NwAC), including the individual branches, with associated error estimates. We accomplished this by combining repeated hydrographic data in the Svinøy section (at 62° N off the coast of Norway toward the...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1a093809ef804b53ab5e8c6529cd07fd 2023-05-15T17:47:07+02:00 A quantitative description of the Norwegian Atlantic Current by combining altimetry and hydrography K. A. Mork Ø. Skagseth 2010-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/os-6-901-2010 https://doaj.org/article/1a093809ef804b53ab5e8c6529cd07fd EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.ocean-sci.net/6/901/2010/os-6-901-2010.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1812-0784 https://doaj.org/toc/1812-0792 doi:10.5194/os-6-901-2010 1812-0784 1812-0792 https://doaj.org/article/1a093809ef804b53ab5e8c6529cd07fd Ocean Science, Vol 6, Iss 4, Pp 901-911 (2010) Geography. Anthropology. Recreation G Environmental sciences GE1-350 article 2010 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/os-6-901-2010 2022-12-30T21:41:08Z In this study, we quantified the mean flow and the variability in the Norwegian Atlantic Current (NwAC), including the individual branches, with associated error estimates. We accomplished this by combining repeated hydrographic data in the Svinøy section (at 62° N off the coast of Norway toward the northwest) with absolute dynamic sea surface topography data for the period from 1992–2009. The analysis shows a two-branched structure of the NwAC in this section, with calculated absolute velocities that are largely in accordance with the independent current measurements. The mean volume flux of the NwAC was estimated to be 5.1 ± 0.3 Sv (Sv = 10 6 m 3 s −1 ). In terms of branches, the estimated 3.4 ± 0.3 Sv in the eastern branch is slightly below previous estimates. The estimated volume flux in the western branch is 1.7 ± 0.2 Sv, but a lack of robust estimates makes a comparison difficult. There is a significant seasonal cycle in the volume transport (the winter maximum is almost twice as large as the summer minimum) with a major contribution from the eastern branch. On the inter-annual scale, the volume flux and temperature are significantly and negatively correlated in both the western branch and in the total. Examining the results showed that increased volume flux is followed by a decrease in the stability of the upper water column, averaged over the Norwegian Sea, and a delay in the phytoplankton spring bloom at the Ocean Weather Station M (66° N, 2° E), by a lag of 1 year. The cause of this decrease in stability, whether a direct effect of the increased volume flux or a consequence of indirect effects, is however beyond the scope of this study. Article in Journal/Newspaper Norwegian Sea Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Norwegian Sea Norway Svinøy ENVELOPE(10.992,10.992,64.866,64.866) Ocean Science 6 4 901 911 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Geography. Anthropology. Recreation G Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
spellingShingle |
Geography. Anthropology. Recreation G Environmental sciences GE1-350 K. A. Mork Ø. Skagseth A quantitative description of the Norwegian Atlantic Current by combining altimetry and hydrography |
topic_facet |
Geography. Anthropology. Recreation G Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
description |
In this study, we quantified the mean flow and the variability in the Norwegian Atlantic Current (NwAC), including the individual branches, with associated error estimates. We accomplished this by combining repeated hydrographic data in the Svinøy section (at 62° N off the coast of Norway toward the northwest) with absolute dynamic sea surface topography data for the period from 1992–2009. The analysis shows a two-branched structure of the NwAC in this section, with calculated absolute velocities that are largely in accordance with the independent current measurements. The mean volume flux of the NwAC was estimated to be 5.1 ± 0.3 Sv (Sv = 10 6 m 3 s −1 ). In terms of branches, the estimated 3.4 ± 0.3 Sv in the eastern branch is slightly below previous estimates. The estimated volume flux in the western branch is 1.7 ± 0.2 Sv, but a lack of robust estimates makes a comparison difficult. There is a significant seasonal cycle in the volume transport (the winter maximum is almost twice as large as the summer minimum) with a major contribution from the eastern branch. On the inter-annual scale, the volume flux and temperature are significantly and negatively correlated in both the western branch and in the total. Examining the results showed that increased volume flux is followed by a decrease in the stability of the upper water column, averaged over the Norwegian Sea, and a delay in the phytoplankton spring bloom at the Ocean Weather Station M (66° N, 2° E), by a lag of 1 year. The cause of this decrease in stability, whether a direct effect of the increased volume flux or a consequence of indirect effects, is however beyond the scope of this study. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
K. A. Mork Ø. Skagseth |
author_facet |
K. A. Mork Ø. Skagseth |
author_sort |
K. A. Mork |
title |
A quantitative description of the Norwegian Atlantic Current by combining altimetry and hydrography |
title_short |
A quantitative description of the Norwegian Atlantic Current by combining altimetry and hydrography |
title_full |
A quantitative description of the Norwegian Atlantic Current by combining altimetry and hydrography |
title_fullStr |
A quantitative description of the Norwegian Atlantic Current by combining altimetry and hydrography |
title_full_unstemmed |
A quantitative description of the Norwegian Atlantic Current by combining altimetry and hydrography |
title_sort |
quantitative description of the norwegian atlantic current by combining altimetry and hydrography |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-6-901-2010 https://doaj.org/article/1a093809ef804b53ab5e8c6529cd07fd |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(10.992,10.992,64.866,64.866) |
geographic |
Norwegian Sea Norway Svinøy |
geographic_facet |
Norwegian Sea Norway Svinøy |
genre |
Norwegian Sea |
genre_facet |
Norwegian Sea |
op_source |
Ocean Science, Vol 6, Iss 4, Pp 901-911 (2010) |
op_relation |
http://www.ocean-sci.net/6/901/2010/os-6-901-2010.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1812-0784 https://doaj.org/toc/1812-0792 doi:10.5194/os-6-901-2010 1812-0784 1812-0792 https://doaj.org/article/1a093809ef804b53ab5e8c6529cd07fd |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-6-901-2010 |
container_title |
Ocean Science |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
901 |
op_container_end_page |
911 |
_version_ |
1766151448039522304 |