Interannual variability of Pacific summer waters in the Arctic Ocean

• Published in: Doklady Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Makhotin, M. S., Dmitrenko, Igor A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2011
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Bering Strait; Pacific; Arctic Basin
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/13227/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/13227/1/DmitrenkoDES2011.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1134/S1028334X11050345

his work is devoted to study of interannual variability of characteristics of Pacific summer waters (PSWs) supplied into the AO in summer. The distribution area, volume, and heat content of PSWs have been calculated for the first time for the entire Arctic Basin in the periods of 1950–1989 and 2008–2009 demonstrating the presence of substantial interannual variability. From 1953 until 1983 a negative trend and since 1984 a positive trend have been observed; the latter lasted until 2009, when the heat content, volume, and distribution area of PSWs reached their maximal values for the entire period considered. It has been shown that PSW quantity in the Arctic Basin, identified by temperature, rather depends on the intensity of heat flux through the Bering Strait, and the calculated value for PSW life in the Arctic Basin is seven years.