The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis
The Faroe-Shetland Channel (FSC) is an important conduit for the poleward flow of Atlantic water towards the Nordic Seas and, as such, it plays an integral part in the Atlantic's thermohaline circulation. Mixing processes in the FSC are thought to result in an exchange of properties between the...
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ftuhipublicatio:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/d52f24a0-5687-4f29-aa35-a20e12a09444 2024-01-28T10:03:42+01:00 The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis Mckenna, C. Berx, B. Austin, W.e.n. 2016-01-01 https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/publications/d52f24a0-5687-4f29-aa35-a20e12a09444 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.10.013 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/7787 https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S096706371500182X eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Mckenna , C , Berx , B & Austin , W E N 2016 , ' The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis ' , Deep-Sea Research Part I-Oceanographic Research Papers , vol. 107 , pp. 9-21 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.10.013 Faroe-Shetland Channel North Atlantic Water mass mixing Mixing models POMP analysis δ18O article 2016 ftuhipublicatio https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.10.013 2024-01-04T23:21:25Z The Faroe-Shetland Channel (FSC) is an important conduit for the poleward flow of Atlantic water towards the Nordic Seas and, as such, it plays an integral part in the Atlantic's thermohaline circulation. Mixing processes in the FSC are thought to result in an exchange of properties between the channel's inflow and outflow, with wider implications for this circulation; the nature of this mixing in the FSC is, however, uncertain. To constrain this uncertainty, we used a novel empirical method known as Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter (POMP) analysis to objectively quantify the distribution of water masses in the channel in May 2013. This was achieved by using a combination of temperature and salinity measurements, as well as recently available nutrient and δ18O measurements. The outcomes of POMP analysis are in good agreement with established literature and demonstrate the benefits of representing all five water masses in the FSC. In particular, our results show the recirculation of Modified North Atlantic Water in the surface layers, and the pathways of Norwegian Sea Arctic Intermediate Water and Norwegian Sea Deep Water from north to south for the first time. In a final step, we apply the mixing fractions from POMP analysis to decompose the volume transport through the FSC by water mass. Despite a number of caveats, our study suggests that improved estimates of the volume transport of Atlantic inflow towards the Arctic and, thus, the associated poleward fluxes of salt and heat are possible. A new prospect to more accurately monitor the strength of the FSC branch of the thermohaline circulation emerges from this study Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Nordic Seas North Atlantic Norwegian Sea University of the Highlands and Islands: Research Database of UHI Arctic Norwegian Sea Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 107 9 21 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of the Highlands and Islands: Research Database of UHI |
op_collection_id |
ftuhipublicatio |
language |
English |
topic |
Faroe-Shetland Channel North Atlantic Water mass mixing Mixing models POMP analysis δ18O |
spellingShingle |
Faroe-Shetland Channel North Atlantic Water mass mixing Mixing models POMP analysis δ18O Mckenna, C. Berx, B. Austin, W.e.n. The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis |
topic_facet |
Faroe-Shetland Channel North Atlantic Water mass mixing Mixing models POMP analysis δ18O |
description |
The Faroe-Shetland Channel (FSC) is an important conduit for the poleward flow of Atlantic water towards the Nordic Seas and, as such, it plays an integral part in the Atlantic's thermohaline circulation. Mixing processes in the FSC are thought to result in an exchange of properties between the channel's inflow and outflow, with wider implications for this circulation; the nature of this mixing in the FSC is, however, uncertain. To constrain this uncertainty, we used a novel empirical method known as Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter (POMP) analysis to objectively quantify the distribution of water masses in the channel in May 2013. This was achieved by using a combination of temperature and salinity measurements, as well as recently available nutrient and δ18O measurements. The outcomes of POMP analysis are in good agreement with established literature and demonstrate the benefits of representing all five water masses in the FSC. In particular, our results show the recirculation of Modified North Atlantic Water in the surface layers, and the pathways of Norwegian Sea Arctic Intermediate Water and Norwegian Sea Deep Water from north to south for the first time. In a final step, we apply the mixing fractions from POMP analysis to decompose the volume transport through the FSC by water mass. Despite a number of caveats, our study suggests that improved estimates of the volume transport of Atlantic inflow towards the Arctic and, thus, the associated poleward fluxes of salt and heat are possible. A new prospect to more accurately monitor the strength of the FSC branch of the thermohaline circulation emerges from this study |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mckenna, C. Berx, B. Austin, W.e.n. |
author_facet |
Mckenna, C. Berx, B. Austin, W.e.n. |
author_sort |
Mckenna, C. |
title |
The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis |
title_short |
The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis |
title_full |
The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis |
title_fullStr |
The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis |
title_sort |
decomposition of the faroe-shetland channel water masses using parametric optimum multi-parameter analysis |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/publications/d52f24a0-5687-4f29-aa35-a20e12a09444 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.10.013 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/7787 https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S096706371500182X |
geographic |
Arctic Norwegian Sea |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Norwegian Sea |
genre |
Arctic Nordic Seas North Atlantic Norwegian Sea |
genre_facet |
Arctic Nordic Seas North Atlantic Norwegian Sea |
op_source |
Mckenna , C , Berx , B & Austin , W E N 2016 , ' The decomposition of the Faroe-Shetland Channel water masses using Parametric Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis ' , Deep-Sea Research Part I-Oceanographic Research Papers , vol. 107 , pp. 9-21 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.10.013 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.10.013 |
container_title |
Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers |
container_volume |
107 |
container_start_page |
9 |
op_container_end_page |
21 |
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1789329130986143744 |