Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay
We provide a detailed description of the spatial distribution, seasonality and transformation of the main water masses within MacKenzie Polynya (MP) in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, using data from instrumented southern elephant seals. Dense Shelf Water (DSW) formation in MP shows large spatial variab...
Published in: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans |
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Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.
2021
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017748 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/148511 |
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ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:148511 2023-05-15T13:22:08+02:00 Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay Portela, E Rintoul, SR Bestley, S Herraiz-Borreguero, L van Wijk, E McMahon, CR Roquet, F Hindell, M 2021 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017748 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/148511 en eng Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc. http://ecite.utas.edu.au/148511/2/148511 - Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses_OA.pdf http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017748 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE180100828 Portela, E and Rintoul, SR and Bestley, S and Herraiz-Borreguero, L and van Wijk, E and McMahon, CR and Roquet, F and Hindell, M, Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126, (12) Article e2021JC017748. ISSN 2169-9275 (2021) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/148511 Earth Sciences Oceanography Physical oceanography Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2021 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017748 2022-08-29T22:18:36Z We provide a detailed description of the spatial distribution, seasonality and transformation of the main water masses within MacKenzie Polynya (MP) in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, using data from instrumented southern elephant seals. Dense Shelf Water (DSW) formation in MP shows large spatial variability that is related to the (a) local bathymetry, (b) water column preconditioning from the presence/absence of different water masses, and (c) proximity to the Amery Ice Shelf meltwater outflow. MP exhibits sustained sea ice production and brine rejection (thus, salinity increase) from April to October. However, new DSW is only formed from June onward, when the mixed layer deepens and convection is strong enough to break the stratification set by Antarctic Surface Water above and Ice Shelf Water below. We found no evidence of DSW export from MP to Darnley polynya, as previously suggested. Rather, our observations suggest some DSW formed in Darnley Polynya may drain toward the western Prydz Bay. Then, DSW is exported offshore from Prydz Bay through the Prydz Channel. The interplay between sea ice formation, meltwater input, and sea floor topography is likely to explain why some coastal polynyas form more DSW than others, as well as the temporal variability in DSW formation within a particular polynya. Article in Journal/Newspaper Amery Ice Shelf Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Elephant Seals Ice Shelf Prydz Bay Sea ice Southern Elephant Seals eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) Antarctic East Antarctica Prydz Bay Amery ENVELOPE(-94.063,-94.063,56.565,56.565) Amery Ice Shelf ENVELOPE(71.000,71.000,-69.750,-69.750) Darnley ENVELOPE(69.717,69.717,-67.717,-67.717) Prydz Channel ENVELOPE(73.000,73.000,-67.000,-67.000) Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 126 12 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth Sciences Oceanography Physical oceanography |
spellingShingle |
Earth Sciences Oceanography Physical oceanography Portela, E Rintoul, SR Bestley, S Herraiz-Borreguero, L van Wijk, E McMahon, CR Roquet, F Hindell, M Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay |
topic_facet |
Earth Sciences Oceanography Physical oceanography |
description |
We provide a detailed description of the spatial distribution, seasonality and transformation of the main water masses within MacKenzie Polynya (MP) in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, using data from instrumented southern elephant seals. Dense Shelf Water (DSW) formation in MP shows large spatial variability that is related to the (a) local bathymetry, (b) water column preconditioning from the presence/absence of different water masses, and (c) proximity to the Amery Ice Shelf meltwater outflow. MP exhibits sustained sea ice production and brine rejection (thus, salinity increase) from April to October. However, new DSW is only formed from June onward, when the mixed layer deepens and convection is strong enough to break the stratification set by Antarctic Surface Water above and Ice Shelf Water below. We found no evidence of DSW export from MP to Darnley polynya, as previously suggested. Rather, our observations suggest some DSW formed in Darnley Polynya may drain toward the western Prydz Bay. Then, DSW is exported offshore from Prydz Bay through the Prydz Channel. The interplay between sea ice formation, meltwater input, and sea floor topography is likely to explain why some coastal polynyas form more DSW than others, as well as the temporal variability in DSW formation within a particular polynya. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Portela, E Rintoul, SR Bestley, S Herraiz-Borreguero, L van Wijk, E McMahon, CR Roquet, F Hindell, M |
author_facet |
Portela, E Rintoul, SR Bestley, S Herraiz-Borreguero, L van Wijk, E McMahon, CR Roquet, F Hindell, M |
author_sort |
Portela, E |
title |
Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay |
title_short |
Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay |
title_full |
Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay |
title_fullStr |
Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay |
title_sort |
seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within mackenzie polynya, prydz bay |
publisher |
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc. |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017748 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/148511 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-94.063,-94.063,56.565,56.565) ENVELOPE(71.000,71.000,-69.750,-69.750) ENVELOPE(69.717,69.717,-67.717,-67.717) ENVELOPE(73.000,73.000,-67.000,-67.000) |
geographic |
Antarctic East Antarctica Prydz Bay Amery Amery Ice Shelf Darnley Prydz Channel |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic East Antarctica Prydz Bay Amery Amery Ice Shelf Darnley Prydz Channel |
genre |
Amery Ice Shelf Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Elephant Seals Ice Shelf Prydz Bay Sea ice Southern Elephant Seals |
genre_facet |
Amery Ice Shelf Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica East Antarctica Elephant Seals Ice Shelf Prydz Bay Sea ice Southern Elephant Seals |
op_relation |
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/148511/2/148511 - Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses_OA.pdf http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017748 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE180100828 Portela, E and Rintoul, SR and Bestley, S and Herraiz-Borreguero, L and van Wijk, E and McMahon, CR and Roquet, F and Hindell, M, Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126, (12) Article e2021JC017748. ISSN 2169-9275 (2021) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/148511 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017748 |
container_title |
Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans |
container_volume |
126 |
container_issue |
12 |
_version_ |
1766363413834891264 |