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Seasonal variation in circulation and water mass distribution on the Ross Sea continental shelf

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2003

K. ASSMANN ,
H.H. HELLMER  and
A. BECKMANN
K. ASSMANN
Affiliation:
Alfred-Wegener-Institüt für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 12 01 61, D-27515 Bremerhaven, Germany
H.H. HELLMER
Affiliation:
Alfred-Wegener-Institüt für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 12 01 61, D-27515 Bremerhaven, Germany
A. BECKMANN
Affiliation:
Alfred-Wegener-Institüt für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Postfach 12 01 61, D-27515 Bremerhaven, Germany
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Abstract

Changes in water mass distribution and horizontal circulation due to seasonal influences on the Ross Sea continental shelf are investigated using a circumpolar numerical model. An anticyclonic circulation cell that extends across the open shelf and into the ice shelf cavity is formed in the model. The increased east–west density gradient caused by the strong brine release in the Ross Sea polynya in winter results in an intensification of this anticyclonic cell from 1.5 Sv to 2.5 Sv. This supports the concept of a thermohaline-driven horizontal circulation on the Ross Sea continental shelf. In addition to a temporal change in the circulation strength, the changes in the density structure lead to complex temporal and spatial variability in the circulation around Ross Island. Due to seasonal variation in circulation strength and water temperatures, the area averaged basal melt rate of 25 cm a−1 shows a bimodal seasonal cycle ranging from 20–28 cm a−1, with maxima in March and August.

Keywords

Antarcticaice shelf cavitynumerical modelseasonal cyclethermohaline circulation
Type
Research Article
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2003 , pp. 3 - 11
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2003

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