Subpolar Mode Water formation traced by neodymium isotopic composition

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: Lacan, F., Jeandel, C.
• Other Authors: GEOMAR LEGOS, Laboratoire d'études en Géophysique et océanographie spatiales (LEGOS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2004
• Subjects: [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean; Atmosphere; Denmark Strait; North Atlantic; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00399162; https://hal.science/hal-00399162/document; https://hal.science/hal-00399162/file/2004GL019747.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL019747

International audience The formation of Subpolar Mode Water (SPMW) is documented by combining neodymium isotopic composition (Nd IC) as a conservative tracer with salinity, temperature and O 2 concentration. Nd IC reveals a more pronounced eastward extension of the Labrador Current, particularly its Subarctic Intermediate Water component, than the other parameters. Nd IC also suggests that waters flowing through the Denmark Strait do not significantly contribute to the SPMW formation. A two end-member mixing, involving Subarctic Intermediate Water (and maybe ultimately Labrador Current Water) and North Atlantic Central Water, is proposed to explain SPMW formation. These results provide important insight into the processes controlling the Nd IC in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre, which could provide a means for reconstructing the northward extension of the Gulf Stream in the past.