Investigation of the Impacts of Greenland Ice Sheet Melting on the along-Shelf Flow on Greenland Shelves and the Labrador Sea Deep Convection

• Other Authors: Sangmanee, Chalermrat (authoraut), Clarke, Allan J. (professor directing dissertation), Tam, Christopher K. W. (university representative), Knapp, Angela N. (committee member), Bourassa, Mark Allan (committee member), Dewar, William K. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science (degree granting departmentdgg)
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Tallahassee, Florida: Florida State University 2017
• Subjects: Oceanography; Greenland; Ice Sheet; Labrador Sea
• Online Access: https://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/islandora/object/fsu%3A552356/datastream/TN/view/Investigation%20of%20the%20Impacts%20of%20Greenland%20Ice%20Sheet%20Melting%20on%20the%20along-Shelf%20Flow%20on%20Greenland%20Shelves%20and%20the%20Labrador%20Sea%20Deep%20Convection.jpg

Gravity measurements from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite measuring system show that Greenland is losing mass as water is lost to the ocean. Past work has suggested that the freshwater flux from Greenland, particularly along the southeastern coast, may be affecting the Labrador Sea deep convection, a major driver of the world deep ocean circulation. The main objectives of this thesis are to examine (1) the relationship between Greenland freshwater flux and the near-surface Labrador Sea salinity; (2) the response of the Greenland shelf water flow to the freshwater flux from the coast; and (3) to predict when the Labrador Sea deep convection will shut down because of the near-surface Labrador Sea freshening. Using the GRACE results and analysis of Argo float hydrographic data showed that there is a strong correlation between the anomalous annual freshwater flux onto the southeastern Greenland shelf and the freshening of the Labrador Sea several months later. The corresponding regression coefficient is physically reasonable and the delay in freshening is what you would expect based on eddy propagation from the west Greenland coast to the site of Labrador Sea deep convection. Satellite altimeter data was used to estimate the interannual shelf water flow, but the flow trend was too small to be determined. Calculations of the heat flux during winter in the Labrador Sea region of deep convection showed that if the freshening continues at the present rate, in about 31 years the cooling heat flux in water will not be able to overcome the freshwater near-surface buoyancy and deep convection will cease. Submitted Note: A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Degree Awarded: Summer Semester 2017. Date of Defense: June 2, 2017. Keywords: Along-shelf flow, Deep convection, Freshwater flux, Greenland, Labrador Sea Bibliography Note: Includes bibliographical ...