Contrasting patterns of river runoff and sea-ice melted water in the Canada Basin

• Main Authors: Tong Jinlu, Chen Min, Qiu Yusheng, Li Yanping, Cao Jianping, 陈敏
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SPRINGER 2014
• Subjects: MEAN RESIDENCE TIME; ARCTIC-OCEAN; FRESH-WATER; CHUKCHI PLATEAU; ISOTOPE DATA; HALOCLINE; SALINITY; DELTA-O-18; VARIABILITY; CIRCULATION; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Canada; canada basin; Chukchi; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dspace.xmu.edu.cn/handle/2288/88125

The Chinese Polar Environment Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment Programs [CHINARE2014-03-04-03]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [41125020]; State Oceanic Administration [201105022-4]; 4th Chinese Arctic Research Program The fractions of river runoff and sea-ice melted water in the Canada Basin in summer 2003 were determined by the salinity-delta O-18 system. The fraction of river runoff (f (R)) was high in the upper 50 m of the water column and decreased with depth and latitude. The signals of the river runoff were confined to water depths above 200 m. The total amount of river runoff in the Canada Basin was higher than that in other arctic seas, indicating that the Canada Basin is a main storage region for river runoff. The penetration depth of the sea-ice melted water was less than 50 m to the south of 78A degrees N, while it was about 150 m to the north of 78A degrees N. The total amount of sea-ice melted water was much higher to the north of 78A degrees N than to the south of 78A degrees N, indicating the sea-ice melted waters accumulated on the ice edge. The abundant sea-ice melted water on the ice edge was attributed to the earlier melted water in the southern Canada Basin and transported by the Beaufort Gyre or the reinforced melting of sea ice by solar radiation in the polynya.