On the freshening of the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf
We analyzed hydrographic data from the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf of the three austral winters 1989, 1997, and 2006 and two summers following the last winter cruise. During summer a thermal front exists at ~64° S separating cold southern waters from warm northern waters that have sim...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:a287acbbac3545c4b7929cd20e132da0 2023-05-15T13:54:39+02:00 On the freshening of the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf H. H. Hellmer O. Huhn D. Gomis R. Timmermann 2011-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/os-7-305-2011 https://doaj.org/article/a287acbbac3545c4b7929cd20e132da0 EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.ocean-sci.net/7/305/2011/os-7-305-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1812-0784 https://doaj.org/toc/1812-0792 doi:10.5194/os-7-305-2011 1812-0784 1812-0792 https://doaj.org/article/a287acbbac3545c4b7929cd20e132da0 Ocean Science, Vol 7, Iss 3, Pp 305-316 (2011) Geography. Anthropology. Recreation G Environmental sciences GE1-350 article 2011 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/os-7-305-2011 2022-12-31T13:36:09Z We analyzed hydrographic data from the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf of the three austral winters 1989, 1997, and 2006 and two summers following the last winter cruise. During summer a thermal front exists at ~64° S separating cold southern waters from warm northern waters that have similar characteristics as the deep waters of the central basin of the Bransfield Strait. In winter, the whole continental shelf exhibits southern characteristics with high Neon (Ne) concentrations, indicating a significant input of glacial melt water. The comparison of the winter data from the shallow shelf off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, spanning a period of 17 yr, shows a salinity decrease of 0.09 for the whole water column, which has a residence time of <1 yr. We interpret this freshening as being caused by a combination of reduced salt input due to a southward sea ice retreat and higher precipitation during the late 20th century on the western Weddell Sea continental shelf. However, less salinification might also result from a delicate interplay between enhanced salt input due to sea ice formation in coastal areas formerly occupied by Larsen A and B ice shelves and increased Larsen C ice loss. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Strait Ice Shelves Sea ice Weddell Sea Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Bransfield Strait Central Basin ENVELOPE(178.000,178.000,-72.300,-72.300) The Antarctic Weddell Weddell Sea Ocean Science 7 3 305 316 |
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 H. H. Hellmer O. Huhn D. Gomis R. Timmermann On the freshening of the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf |
topic_facet |
Geography. Anthropology. Recreation G Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
description |
We analyzed hydrographic data from the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf of the three austral winters 1989, 1997, and 2006 and two summers following the last winter cruise. During summer a thermal front exists at ~64° S separating cold southern waters from warm northern waters that have similar characteristics as the deep waters of the central basin of the Bransfield Strait. In winter, the whole continental shelf exhibits southern characteristics with high Neon (Ne) concentrations, indicating a significant input of glacial melt water. The comparison of the winter data from the shallow shelf off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, spanning a period of 17 yr, shows a salinity decrease of 0.09 for the whole water column, which has a residence time of <1 yr. We interpret this freshening as being caused by a combination of reduced salt input due to a southward sea ice retreat and higher precipitation during the late 20th century on the western Weddell Sea continental shelf. However, less salinification might also result from a delicate interplay between enhanced salt input due to sea ice formation in coastal areas formerly occupied by Larsen A and B ice shelves and increased Larsen C ice loss. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
H. H. Hellmer O. Huhn D. Gomis R. Timmermann |
author_facet |
H. H. Hellmer O. Huhn D. Gomis R. Timmermann |
author_sort |
H. H. Hellmer |
title |
On the freshening of the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf |
title_short |
On the freshening of the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf |
title_full |
On the freshening of the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf |
title_fullStr |
On the freshening of the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf |
title_full_unstemmed |
On the freshening of the northwestern Weddell Sea continental shelf |
title_sort |
on the freshening of the northwestern weddell sea continental shelf |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-7-305-2011 https://doaj.org/article/a287acbbac3545c4b7929cd20e132da0 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(178.000,178.000,-72.300,-72.300) |
geographic |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Bransfield Strait Central Basin The Antarctic Weddell Weddell Sea |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Bransfield Strait Central Basin The Antarctic Weddell Weddell Sea |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Strait Ice Shelves Sea ice Weddell Sea |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Bransfield Strait Ice Shelves Sea ice Weddell Sea |
op_source |
Ocean Science, Vol 7, Iss 3, Pp 305-316 (2011) |
op_relation |
http://www.ocean-sci.net/7/305/2011/os-7-305-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1812-0784 https://doaj.org/toc/1812-0792 doi:10.5194/os-7-305-2011 1812-0784 1812-0792 https://doaj.org/article/a287acbbac3545c4b7929cd20e132da0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-7-305-2011 |
container_title |
Ocean Science |
container_volume |
7 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
305 |
op_container_end_page |
316 |
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1766260713511190528 |