Evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica, 2016–2021
Polynyas are key sites of ice production during the winter and are important sites of biological activity and carbon sequestration during the summer. The Amundsen Sea Polynya (ASP) is the fourth largest Antarctic polynya, has recorded the highest primary productivity, and lies in an embayment of key...
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Copernicus Publications
2023
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-457-2023 https://doaj.org/article/1b582d7b9a5d472b9f31c7cb50d41e08 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1b582d7b9a5d472b9f31c7cb50d41e08 2023-05-15T13:24:01+02:00 Evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica, 2016–2021 G. J. Macdonald S. F. Ackley A. M. Mestas-Nuñez A. Blanco-Cabanillas 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-457-2023 https://doaj.org/article/1b582d7b9a5d472b9f31c7cb50d41e08 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/457/2023/tc-17-457-2023.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-17-457-2023 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/1b582d7b9a5d472b9f31c7cb50d41e08 The Cryosphere, Vol 17, Pp 457-476 (2023) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-457-2023 2023-02-05T01:26:26Z Polynyas are key sites of ice production during the winter and are important sites of biological activity and carbon sequestration during the summer. The Amundsen Sea Polynya (ASP) is the fourth largest Antarctic polynya, has recorded the highest primary productivity, and lies in an embayment of key oceanographic significance. However, knowledge of its dynamics, and of sub-annual variations in its area and ice production, is limited. In this study we primarily utilize Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, sea ice concentration products, and climate reanalysis data, along with bathymetric data, to analyze the ASP over the period November 2016–March 2021. Specifically, we analyze (i) qualitative changes in the ASP's characteristics and dynamics, as well as quantitative changes in (ii) summer polynya area, and (iii) winter polynya area and ice production. From our analysis of SAR imagery we find that ice produced by the ASP becomes stuck in the vicinity of the polynya and sometimes flows back into the polynya, contributing to its closure and limiting further ice production. The polynya forms westward off a persistent chain of grounded icebergs that are located at the site of a bathymetric high. Grounded icebergs also influence the outflow of ice and facilitate the formation of a “secondary polynya” at times. Additionally, unlike some polynyas, ice produced by the polynya flows westward after formation, along the coast and into the neighboring sea sector. During the summer and early winter, broader regional sea ice conditions can play an important role in the polynya. The polynya opens in all summers, but record-low sea ice conditions in 2016/17 cause it to become part of the open ocean. During the winter, an average of 78 % of ice production occurs in April–May and September–October, but large polynya events often associated with high, southeasterly or easterly winds can cause ice production throughout the winter. While passive microwave data or daily sea ice concentration products remain key for ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Amundsen Sea Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Iceberg* Sea ice The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Amundsen Sea Antarctic The Cryosphere 17 2 457 476 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 G. J. Macdonald S. F. Ackley A. M. Mestas-Nuñez A. Blanco-Cabanillas Evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica, 2016–2021 |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Polynyas are key sites of ice production during the winter and are important sites of biological activity and carbon sequestration during the summer. The Amundsen Sea Polynya (ASP) is the fourth largest Antarctic polynya, has recorded the highest primary productivity, and lies in an embayment of key oceanographic significance. However, knowledge of its dynamics, and of sub-annual variations in its area and ice production, is limited. In this study we primarily utilize Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, sea ice concentration products, and climate reanalysis data, along with bathymetric data, to analyze the ASP over the period November 2016–March 2021. Specifically, we analyze (i) qualitative changes in the ASP's characteristics and dynamics, as well as quantitative changes in (ii) summer polynya area, and (iii) winter polynya area and ice production. From our analysis of SAR imagery we find that ice produced by the ASP becomes stuck in the vicinity of the polynya and sometimes flows back into the polynya, contributing to its closure and limiting further ice production. The polynya forms westward off a persistent chain of grounded icebergs that are located at the site of a bathymetric high. Grounded icebergs also influence the outflow of ice and facilitate the formation of a “secondary polynya” at times. Additionally, unlike some polynyas, ice produced by the polynya flows westward after formation, along the coast and into the neighboring sea sector. During the summer and early winter, broader regional sea ice conditions can play an important role in the polynya. The polynya opens in all summers, but record-low sea ice conditions in 2016/17 cause it to become part of the open ocean. During the winter, an average of 78 % of ice production occurs in April–May and September–October, but large polynya events often associated with high, southeasterly or easterly winds can cause ice production throughout the winter. While passive microwave data or daily sea ice concentration products remain key for ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
G. J. Macdonald S. F. Ackley A. M. Mestas-Nuñez A. Blanco-Cabanillas |
author_facet |
G. J. Macdonald S. F. Ackley A. M. Mestas-Nuñez A. Blanco-Cabanillas |
author_sort |
G. J. Macdonald |
title |
Evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica, 2016–2021 |
title_short |
Evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica, 2016–2021 |
title_full |
Evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica, 2016–2021 |
title_fullStr |
Evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica, 2016–2021 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica, 2016–2021 |
title_sort |
evolution of the dynamics, area, and ice production of the amundsen sea polynya, antarctica, 2016–2021 |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-457-2023 https://doaj.org/article/1b582d7b9a5d472b9f31c7cb50d41e08 |
geographic |
Amundsen Sea Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Amundsen Sea Antarctic |
genre |
Amundsen Sea Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Iceberg* Sea ice The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
Amundsen Sea Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Iceberg* Sea ice The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 17, Pp 457-476 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/457/2023/tc-17-457-2023.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-17-457-2023 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/1b582d7b9a5d472b9f31c7cb50d41e08 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-457-2023 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
457 |
op_container_end_page |
476 |
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1766376938394353664 |