Arctic Ocean Circulation

• Main Author: Rudels, Bert
• Other Authors: Steele, John H., Thorpe, Steve A., Turekian, Karl K.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Academic Press 2009
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Pacific; Nordic Seas
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/49850/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/49850/1/Rudels.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012374473-9.00601-9

This article describes the geographical and bathymetric setting of the Arctic Ocean, its role in the larger Arctic Mediterranean Sea, and its connections to the World Ocean. The distribution and circulation of the different water masses are reviewed and mechanical and thermodynamic mixing processes are discussed. The climatic forcing and the recently observed variability of water mass characteristics are examined and the exchanges between the Arctic Ocean and the Nordic Seas and with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are described. Finally the possible effects of changes in the global climate for the state of the Arctic Ocean and the significance of the Arctic Ocean in the climate system are discussed.