Deep convection in the Irminger Sea observed with a Dense Mooring Array
Deep convection is a key process in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, but because it acts at small scales, it remains poorly resolved by climate models. The occurrence of deep convection depends on weak initial stratification and strong surface buoyancy forcing, conditions that are sa...
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ftnioz:oai:imis.nioz.nl:292987 2023-05-15T16:28:29+02:00 Deep convection in the Irminger Sea observed with a Dense Mooring Array de Jong, M.F. Oltmanns, M. Karstensen, J. de Steur, L. 2018 application/pdf https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/95/311195.pdf en eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/000427367300009 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2018.109 https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/95/311195.pdf info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess %3Ci%3EOceanography+31%281%29%3C%2Fi%3E%3A+50-59.+%3Ca+href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.5670%2Foceanog.2018.109%22+target%3D%22_blank%22%3Ehttps%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.5670%2Foceanog.2018.109%3C%2Fa%3E info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2018 ftnioz https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2018.109 2022-05-01T14:06:57Z Deep convection is a key process in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, but because it acts at small scales, it remains poorly resolved by climate models. The occurrence of deep convection depends on weak initial stratification and strong surface buoyancy forcing, conditions that are satisfied in only a few ocean basins. In 2014, one of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) global arrays was installed close to the Central Irminger Sea (CIS) and the Long-term Ocean Circulation Observations (LOCO) moorings in the central Irminger Sea. These programs’ six moorings are located in the center of an area of deep convection and are distributed within a 50 km radius, thus offering detailed insight into spatial differences during the strong convection events that occurred during the winters of 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Deep mixed layers, down to approximately 1,600 m, formed during both winters. The properties of the convectively renewed water mass at each mooring converge to a common temperature and salinity before restratification sets in at the end of winter. The largest differences in onset (or timing) of convection and restratification are seen between the northernmost and southernmost moorings. High-resolution atmospheric reanalysis data show there is higher atmospheric forcing at the northernmost mooring due to a more favorable position with respect to the Greenland tip jet. Nevertheless, earlier onset, and more continuous cooling and deepening of mixed layers, occurs at the southernmost mooring, while convection at the northern mooring is frequently interrupted by warm events. We propose that these warm events are associated with eddies and filaments originating from the Irminger Current off the coast of Greenland and that convection further south benefits from cold inflow from the southwest. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland NIOZ Repository (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) Greenland Irminger Sea ENVELOPE(-34.041,-34.041,63.054,63.054) Oceanography 31 1 50 59 |
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Open Polar |
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NIOZ Repository (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) |
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ftnioz |
language |
English |
description |
Deep convection is a key process in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, but because it acts at small scales, it remains poorly resolved by climate models. The occurrence of deep convection depends on weak initial stratification and strong surface buoyancy forcing, conditions that are satisfied in only a few ocean basins. In 2014, one of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) global arrays was installed close to the Central Irminger Sea (CIS) and the Long-term Ocean Circulation Observations (LOCO) moorings in the central Irminger Sea. These programs’ six moorings are located in the center of an area of deep convection and are distributed within a 50 km radius, thus offering detailed insight into spatial differences during the strong convection events that occurred during the winters of 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Deep mixed layers, down to approximately 1,600 m, formed during both winters. The properties of the convectively renewed water mass at each mooring converge to a common temperature and salinity before restratification sets in at the end of winter. The largest differences in onset (or timing) of convection and restratification are seen between the northernmost and southernmost moorings. High-resolution atmospheric reanalysis data show there is higher atmospheric forcing at the northernmost mooring due to a more favorable position with respect to the Greenland tip jet. Nevertheless, earlier onset, and more continuous cooling and deepening of mixed layers, occurs at the southernmost mooring, while convection at the northern mooring is frequently interrupted by warm events. We propose that these warm events are associated with eddies and filaments originating from the Irminger Current off the coast of Greenland and that convection further south benefits from cold inflow from the southwest. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
de Jong, M.F. Oltmanns, M. Karstensen, J. de Steur, L. |
spellingShingle |
de Jong, M.F. Oltmanns, M. Karstensen, J. de Steur, L. Deep convection in the Irminger Sea observed with a Dense Mooring Array |
author_facet |
de Jong, M.F. Oltmanns, M. Karstensen, J. de Steur, L. |
author_sort |
de Jong, M.F. |
title |
Deep convection in the Irminger Sea observed with a Dense Mooring Array |
title_short |
Deep convection in the Irminger Sea observed with a Dense Mooring Array |
title_full |
Deep convection in the Irminger Sea observed with a Dense Mooring Array |
title_fullStr |
Deep convection in the Irminger Sea observed with a Dense Mooring Array |
title_full_unstemmed |
Deep convection in the Irminger Sea observed with a Dense Mooring Array |
title_sort |
deep convection in the irminger sea observed with a dense mooring array |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/95/311195.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-34.041,-34.041,63.054,63.054) |
geographic |
Greenland Irminger Sea |
geographic_facet |
Greenland Irminger Sea |
genre |
Greenland |
genre_facet |
Greenland |
op_source |
%3Ci%3EOceanography+31%281%29%3C%2Fi%3E%3A+50-59.+%3Ca+href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.5670%2Foceanog.2018.109%22+target%3D%22_blank%22%3Ehttps%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.5670%2Foceanog.2018.109%3C%2Fa%3E |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/000427367300009 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2018.109 https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/95/311195.pdf |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2018.109 |
container_title |
Oceanography |
container_volume |
31 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
50 |
op_container_end_page |
59 |
_version_ |
1766018137211273216 |