Mapping of Upper Ocean Velocity and Transport in the Cape Farewell Area

• Main Author: Meyer, A
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: National Oceanography Centre 2006
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Oceanography; Physical Oceanography; Greenland; Cape Farewell; East Greenland; east greenland current; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://ecite.utas.edu.au/125345

The global Thermohaline Circulation (THC), driven by fluxes of heat and freshwater at the ocean surface, is known to be intimately involved with majorvanations tn the Earth' climate. The East Greenland Coastal Current (EGCC)together with the East Greenland Current (EGC), represent the major surfacecurrents drawing fresh water southwards in the North Atlantic and therefore playan important role in the THC. By identifying and quantifying Sub-Polar oceanprocesses such as the EGC we can consolidate our knowledge on present-dayclimate variability. To do so, hydro graphic data from cruise D298 was analyzedand volume transport calculated. We found that the EGC (initially 8.3 Sv) andthe EGCC (initially 1.6 Sv), merge around Cape Farewell and that 2.2 Sv ofvolume transport is lost in the process. We suggest that a certain volume of theboundary currents is integrated into recirculation cells and that 2 2 Sv isexported southward. Further work is needed on the fresh water fluxes toinvestigate the exact quantity of fresh water exported from the EGC and EGCCinto the North Atlantic.