Structure and Inter-Annual Variability of the Freshened Surface Layer in the Laptev and East-Siberian Seas During Ice-Free Periods
This work is focused on the structure and inter-annual variability of the freshened surface layer (FSL) in the Laptev and East-Siberian seas during ice-free periods. This layer is formed mainly by deltaic rivers among which the Lena River contributes about two thirds of the inflowing freshwater volu...
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2021
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.735011 https://doaj.org/article/8e8ca804a0ae415583a89489bb3f09f3 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:8e8ca804a0ae415583a89489bb3f09f3 2023-05-15T16:04:00+02:00 Structure and Inter-Annual Variability of the Freshened Surface Layer in the Laptev and East-Siberian Seas During Ice-Free Periods Alexander Osadchiev Dmitry Frey Eduard Spivak Sergey Shchuka Natalia Tilinina Igor Semiletov 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.735011 https://doaj.org/article/8e8ca804a0ae415583a89489bb3f09f3 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.735011/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.735011 https://doaj.org/article/8e8ca804a0ae415583a89489bb3f09f3 Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 8 (2021) river plume freshened surface layer stratification Lena River Laptev Sea East-Siberian Sea Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.735011 2022-12-31T15:40:24Z This work is focused on the structure and inter-annual variability of the freshened surface layer (FSL) in the Laptev and East-Siberian seas during ice-free periods. This layer is formed mainly by deltaic rivers among which the Lena River contributes about two thirds of the inflowing freshwater volume. Based on in situ measurements, we show that the area of this FSL during certain years is much greater than the area of FSL in the neighboring Kara Sea, while the total annual freshwater discharge to the Laptev and East-Siberian seas is 1.5 times less than to the Kara Sea (mainly from the estuaries of the Ob and Yenisei rivers). This feature is caused by differences in morphology of the estuaries and deltas. Shallow and narrow channels of the Lena Delta are limitedly affected by sea water. As a result, undiluted Lena discharge inflows to sea from multiple channels and forms relatively shallow plume, as compared to the Ob-Yenisei plume, which mixes with subjacent saline sea water in deep and wide estuaries. Due to small vertical extents of FSL in the Laptev and East-Siberian seas, wind conditions strongly affect its spreading and determine its significant inter-annual variability, as compared to relatively stable FSL in the Kara Sea. During years with prevailing western and northern winds, FSL is localized in the southern parts of the Laptev and East-Siberian seas due to southward Ekman transport, meridional extent (<250 km) and area (∼250,000 km2) of FSL are relatively small. During years with strong eastern winds FSL spreads northward over large area (up to 500,000 km2), its meridional extent increases up to 500–700 km. At the same time, area and position of FSL do not show any dependence on significant variability of the annual river discharge volume and ice coverage during warm season. Article in Journal/Newspaper East Siberian Sea Kara Sea laptev Laptev Sea lena delta lena river Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles East Siberian Sea ENVELOPE(166.000,166.000,74.000,74.000) Kara Sea Laptev Sea Frontiers in Marine Science 8 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
river plume freshened surface layer stratification Lena River Laptev Sea East-Siberian Sea Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
spellingShingle |
river plume freshened surface layer stratification Lena River Laptev Sea East-Siberian Sea Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 Alexander Osadchiev Dmitry Frey Eduard Spivak Sergey Shchuka Natalia Tilinina Igor Semiletov Structure and Inter-Annual Variability of the Freshened Surface Layer in the Laptev and East-Siberian Seas During Ice-Free Periods |
topic_facet |
river plume freshened surface layer stratification Lena River Laptev Sea East-Siberian Sea Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
description |
This work is focused on the structure and inter-annual variability of the freshened surface layer (FSL) in the Laptev and East-Siberian seas during ice-free periods. This layer is formed mainly by deltaic rivers among which the Lena River contributes about two thirds of the inflowing freshwater volume. Based on in situ measurements, we show that the area of this FSL during certain years is much greater than the area of FSL in the neighboring Kara Sea, while the total annual freshwater discharge to the Laptev and East-Siberian seas is 1.5 times less than to the Kara Sea (mainly from the estuaries of the Ob and Yenisei rivers). This feature is caused by differences in morphology of the estuaries and deltas. Shallow and narrow channels of the Lena Delta are limitedly affected by sea water. As a result, undiluted Lena discharge inflows to sea from multiple channels and forms relatively shallow plume, as compared to the Ob-Yenisei plume, which mixes with subjacent saline sea water in deep and wide estuaries. Due to small vertical extents of FSL in the Laptev and East-Siberian seas, wind conditions strongly affect its spreading and determine its significant inter-annual variability, as compared to relatively stable FSL in the Kara Sea. During years with prevailing western and northern winds, FSL is localized in the southern parts of the Laptev and East-Siberian seas due to southward Ekman transport, meridional extent (<250 km) and area (∼250,000 km2) of FSL are relatively small. During years with strong eastern winds FSL spreads northward over large area (up to 500,000 km2), its meridional extent increases up to 500–700 km. At the same time, area and position of FSL do not show any dependence on significant variability of the annual river discharge volume and ice coverage during warm season. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Alexander Osadchiev Dmitry Frey Eduard Spivak Sergey Shchuka Natalia Tilinina Igor Semiletov |
author_facet |
Alexander Osadchiev Dmitry Frey Eduard Spivak Sergey Shchuka Natalia Tilinina Igor Semiletov |
author_sort |
Alexander Osadchiev |
title |
Structure and Inter-Annual Variability of the Freshened Surface Layer in the Laptev and East-Siberian Seas During Ice-Free Periods |
title_short |
Structure and Inter-Annual Variability of the Freshened Surface Layer in the Laptev and East-Siberian Seas During Ice-Free Periods |
title_full |
Structure and Inter-Annual Variability of the Freshened Surface Layer in the Laptev and East-Siberian Seas During Ice-Free Periods |
title_fullStr |
Structure and Inter-Annual Variability of the Freshened Surface Layer in the Laptev and East-Siberian Seas During Ice-Free Periods |
title_full_unstemmed |
Structure and Inter-Annual Variability of the Freshened Surface Layer in the Laptev and East-Siberian Seas During Ice-Free Periods |
title_sort |
structure and inter-annual variability of the freshened surface layer in the laptev and east-siberian seas during ice-free periods |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.735011 https://doaj.org/article/8e8ca804a0ae415583a89489bb3f09f3 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(166.000,166.000,74.000,74.000) |
geographic |
East Siberian Sea Kara Sea Laptev Sea |
geographic_facet |
East Siberian Sea Kara Sea Laptev Sea |
genre |
East Siberian Sea Kara Sea laptev Laptev Sea lena delta lena river |
genre_facet |
East Siberian Sea Kara Sea laptev Laptev Sea lena delta lena river |
op_source |
Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 8 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.735011/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.735011 https://doaj.org/article/8e8ca804a0ae415583a89489bb3f09f3 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.735011 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Marine Science |
container_volume |
8 |
_version_ |
1766399710401134592 |