The fate of the Atlantic Water in the North Icelandic Irminger Current

• Main Author: Hermansen, Stine Camilla
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: The University of Bergen 2012
• Subjects: 756213; VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450::Oceanography: 452; VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400; Kolbeinsey; Kolbeinsey Ridge; Iceland; North Icelandic Irminger Current
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/1956/5757

The fate of the Atlantic Water within the North Icelandic Irminger Current has long been questioned. The North Icelandic Irminger Current flows along the Icelandic shelf area to the west and north of Iceland, bringing warm saline water to the area. The Atlantic Water has a great importance on the climate and biological conditions north of Iceland. The data record used is received from the Marine Research Institute on Iceland, consisting of 18 years of data, collected quarterly per year. Four repeated hydrographic sections have been used to cover the west and north Icelandic shelf, L\'{a}trabjarg, K\"{o}gur, Siglunes and Langanes. Salinity, temperature, cross sectional area, geostrophic velocities and the transport of the Atlantic Water have been examined. Mean annual sections of salinity and temperature were examined, showing an annual presence of Atlantic Water at two out of four sections. A clear seasonal and interannual variability within the inflowing Atlantic Water was observed. The Kolbeinsey Ridge, a ridge situated on the northern Icelandic shelf, was found to be crucial point, where the flow of AW was topographically steered offshore from the coast. The highest temperatures and salinities were observed during summer, and during 2003 the whole northern shelf was found to be covered by Atlantic Water. Atlantic Water was also observed in the central Iceland Sea at three occasions, which might have an importance on a newly discovered current believed to be a significant part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Master i Meteorologi og oseanografi MAMN-GEOF GEOF399