Bathymetry-constrained ocean geostrophic currents play a key role in shaping the sea ice circulation in the Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean

• Published in: Environmental Research Letters
• Main Authors: Hengling Leng, Hailun He, Dake Chen, Peigen Lin, Yang Yang, Zhaomin Wang
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 2024
• Subjects: geostrophic currents; sea ice circulation; Arctic Ocean; Beaufort Gyre; Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering; TD1-1066; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Science; Q; Physics; QC1-999; canada basin; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad6baa; https://doaj.org/article/2e5ad8fe632a40c5a44ecf460ad83024

Satellite-based observations and a pan-Arctic coupled sea ice-ocean model are utilized to study the effect of ocean geostrophic currents on large-scale sea ice circulation in the Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean. We find that surface winds primarily drive sea ice drifts in the west–east direction, while the geostrophic currents in the Beaufort Gyre promote north–south ice drifts. Wind fluctuations can create variable ice drifts, yet geostrophic currents respond more slowly due to their larger vertical scale, serving as a slowly-evolving conveyor belt for maintaining the anticyclonic ice circulation. It is further demonstrated that the bathymetry can regulate the movement of sea ice via constraining the expansion of ocean circulation. This mechanism is indirect in the sense that the ice is far from the seafloor. Our research underscores the necessity of considering the bathymetry-constrained geostrophic currents in understanding Arctic sea ice dynamics. With the rapid retreat of Arctic sea ice, the multi-scale interactions between ice drifts and ocean currents may have significant implications for the Arctic ecosystem, climate, and shipping corridors.