Variability in the freshwater balance of northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula: Results from δ 18 O
We investigate the seasonal variability in freshwater inputs to the Marguerite Bay region (Western Antarctic Peninsula) using a time series of oxygen isotopes in seawater from samples collected in the upper mixed layer of the ocean during 2002 and 2003. We find that meteoric water, mostly in the for...
Published in: | Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography |
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Language: | English |
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ftvliz:oai:oma.vliz.be:210805 2023-05-15T13:33:16+02:00 Variability in the freshwater balance of northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula: Results from δ 18 O Meredith, M.P. Brandon, M.A. Wallace, M.I. Clarke, A. Leng, M.J. Renfrew, I.A. van Lipzig, N.P.M. King, J.C. 2008 http://www.vliz.be/nl/open-marien-archief?module=ref&refid=210805 en eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/000255119600005 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.11.005 http://www.vliz.be/nl/open-marien-archief?module=ref&refid=210805 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess %3Ci%3EDeep-Sea+Res.,+Part+II,+Top.+Stud.+Oceanogr.+55%283-4%29%3C%2Fi%3E%3A+309-322.+%3Ca+href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.dsr2.2007.11.005%22+target%3D%22_blank%22%3Ehttps%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1016%2Fj.dsr2.2007.11.005%3C%2Fa%3E info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2008 ftvliz https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.11.005 2022-05-01T09:37:42Z We investigate the seasonal variability in freshwater inputs to the Marguerite Bay region (Western Antarctic Peninsula) using a time series of oxygen isotopes in seawater from samples collected in the upper mixed layer of the ocean during 2002 and 2003. We find that meteoric water, mostly in the form of glacial ice melt, is the dominant freshwater source, accounting for up to 5% of the near-surface,ocean during the austral summer. Sea-ice melt accounts for a much smaller percentage, even during the summer (maximum around 1%). The seasonality in meteoric water input to the ocean (around 2% of the near-surface ocean) is not dissimilar to that of sea-ice melt (around 2% in 2002 and 1% in 2003), contradicting the assumption that sea-ice processes dominate the seasonal evolution of the physical ocean environment close to the Antarctic continent. Three full-depth profiles of oxygen isotopes collected in successive Decembers (2001-2003) indicate that around 4 m of meteoric water is present in the water column at this time of year, and around 1 m of sea-ice formed from this same water column. The predominance of glacial melt is significant, since it is known to be an important factor in the operation of the ecosystem, for example by providing a source of nutrients and modifying the physical environment to control the spatial extent and magnitude of phytoplankton blooms. The Western Antarctic Peninsula is undergoing a very rapid change in climate, with increasing ocean and air temperatures, retreating glaciers, and increases in precipitation associated with changes in atmospheric circulation. As climate change continues, we expect meteoric water inputs to the adjacent ocean to rise further. Sea-ice in this sector of the Antarctic has shown a climatic decrease, and we expect a reduction in oceanic sea-ice melt fractions if this change continues. Continued monitoring of the oceanic freshwater budget at the western Peninsula is needed to track these changes as they occur, and to better understand their ecological consequences. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Sea ice Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ): Open Marine Archive (OMA) Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Marguerite ENVELOPE(141.378,141.378,-66.787,-66.787) Marguerite Bay ENVELOPE(-68.000,-68.000,-68.500,-68.500) Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 55 3-4 309 322 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ): Open Marine Archive (OMA) |
op_collection_id |
ftvliz |
language |
English |
description |
We investigate the seasonal variability in freshwater inputs to the Marguerite Bay region (Western Antarctic Peninsula) using a time series of oxygen isotopes in seawater from samples collected in the upper mixed layer of the ocean during 2002 and 2003. We find that meteoric water, mostly in the form of glacial ice melt, is the dominant freshwater source, accounting for up to 5% of the near-surface,ocean during the austral summer. Sea-ice melt accounts for a much smaller percentage, even during the summer (maximum around 1%). The seasonality in meteoric water input to the ocean (around 2% of the near-surface ocean) is not dissimilar to that of sea-ice melt (around 2% in 2002 and 1% in 2003), contradicting the assumption that sea-ice processes dominate the seasonal evolution of the physical ocean environment close to the Antarctic continent. Three full-depth profiles of oxygen isotopes collected in successive Decembers (2001-2003) indicate that around 4 m of meteoric water is present in the water column at this time of year, and around 1 m of sea-ice formed from this same water column. The predominance of glacial melt is significant, since it is known to be an important factor in the operation of the ecosystem, for example by providing a source of nutrients and modifying the physical environment to control the spatial extent and magnitude of phytoplankton blooms. The Western Antarctic Peninsula is undergoing a very rapid change in climate, with increasing ocean and air temperatures, retreating glaciers, and increases in precipitation associated with changes in atmospheric circulation. As climate change continues, we expect meteoric water inputs to the adjacent ocean to rise further. Sea-ice in this sector of the Antarctic has shown a climatic decrease, and we expect a reduction in oceanic sea-ice melt fractions if this change continues. Continued monitoring of the oceanic freshwater budget at the western Peninsula is needed to track these changes as they occur, and to better understand their ecological consequences. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Meredith, M.P. Brandon, M.A. Wallace, M.I. Clarke, A. Leng, M.J. Renfrew, I.A. van Lipzig, N.P.M. King, J.C. |
spellingShingle |
Meredith, M.P. Brandon, M.A. Wallace, M.I. Clarke, A. Leng, M.J. Renfrew, I.A. van Lipzig, N.P.M. King, J.C. Variability in the freshwater balance of northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula: Results from δ 18 O |
author_facet |
Meredith, M.P. Brandon, M.A. Wallace, M.I. Clarke, A. Leng, M.J. Renfrew, I.A. van Lipzig, N.P.M. King, J.C. |
author_sort |
Meredith, M.P. |
title |
Variability in the freshwater balance of northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula: Results from δ 18 O |
title_short |
Variability in the freshwater balance of northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula: Results from δ 18 O |
title_full |
Variability in the freshwater balance of northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula: Results from δ 18 O |
title_fullStr |
Variability in the freshwater balance of northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula: Results from δ 18 O |
title_full_unstemmed |
Variability in the freshwater balance of northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula: Results from δ 18 O |
title_sort |
variability in the freshwater balance of northern marguerite bay, antarctic peninsula: results from δ 18 o |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://www.vliz.be/nl/open-marien-archief?module=ref&refid=210805 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(141.378,141.378,-66.787,-66.787) ENVELOPE(-68.000,-68.000,-68.500,-68.500) |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Marguerite Marguerite Bay |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Austral Marguerite Marguerite Bay |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Sea ice |
op_source |
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op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/000255119600005 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.11.005 http://www.vliz.be/nl/open-marien-archief?module=ref&refid=210805 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.11.005 |
container_title |
Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography |
container_volume |
55 |
container_issue |
3-4 |
container_start_page |
309 |
op_container_end_page |
322 |
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