Energetic plumes over the western Ross Sea continental slope

Rapid descent of dense Drygalski Trough (western Ross Sea, Antarctica) shelf water over the continental slope, within 100 to 250 m thick benthic plumes, is described. Speeds of up to 1.0 m/s are recorded flowing at an average angle of 35° to the isobaths, entraining ambient Lower Circumpolar Deep Wa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Gordon, A., Zambianchi, E., Orsi, A., Visbeck, Martin, Giulivi, C., Whitworth, T., Spezie, G.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: AGU (American Geophysical Union) 2004
Subjects:
Antarctic
Drygalski
Ross Sea
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/5483/
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/5483/1/2004GL020785.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL020785
Description
Summary:Rapid descent of dense Drygalski Trough (western Ross Sea, Antarctica) shelf water over the continental slope, within 100 to 250 m thick benthic plumes, is described. Speeds of up to 1.0 m/s are recorded flowing at an average angle of 35° to the isobaths, entraining ambient Lower Circumpolar Deep Water en route. This process is predominant in determining the concentration and placement of the shelf water injected into the deep sea as a precursor Antarctic Bottom Water. Nonetheless, a 4-hour duration pulse of undiluted shelf water was observed at depth (1407 m) directly north of the Drygalski Trough, moving at around 90 degrees to isobaths, and at a speed of 1.4 m/s. Thus the export of Ross Sea shelf water to the deep sea is accomplished within plumes descending at moderate angle to isobaths, punctuated by rapid downhill cascades.

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