Recent changes in Arctic Ocean thermohaline structure: Results from the Canada/U.S. 1994 Arctic Ocean section (scientific paper)

• Main Authors: Jones,E. P., Aagaard,K., Carmack,E. C., Macdonald,R. W., Mclaughlin,F. A., Perkin,R. G., Swift J. H.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography/Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington/Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Institute of Ocean Sciences/Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Institute of Ocean Sciences/Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Institute of Ocean Sciences/Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Institute of Ocean Sciences/Scripps Institution of Oceanography 1996
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Canada; Pacific; Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research; North Atlantic; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=2293; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00002293/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=2293&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

A comparison of historical oceanographic data from the Arctic Ocean with that obtained aboard the CCGS Louis s. St. Laurent during the Canada/U.S. 1994 Arctic Ocean Section unequivocally shows that the mid-depth layers of the Arctic Ocean are experiencing a major warming and ventilation event. The intrusion of new water is characterized by (a) higher values in the Atlantic Layer maximum temperatures, (b) a shallower core depth for the temperature maximum, (c) displacement of waters of Pacific origin in the upper 100-200m, and (d) pronounced thermohaline inversions 40-60m thick in the Atlantic Layer and Upper Deep waters. The largest temperature change, as much as 1℃, is seen in the core of the Atlantic Layer, suggesting that the event is related to an increase in the transport and/or temperature of water entering from the North Atlantic.