Dense waters of the Weddell and Scotia Seas: recent changes in properties and circulation

Meredith, Michael P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7342-7756; Juillon, Loic; Brown, Peter J.; Naveira Garabato, Alberto C.; Couldrey, Matthew P.. 2014 Dense waters of the Weddell and Scotia Seas: recent changes in properties and circulation. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A, 372 (2019). 20130041. 10.1098/rsta.2013.0041

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Abstract/Summary

The densest waters in the Atlantic overturning circulation are sourced at the periphery of Antarctica, especially the Weddell Sea, and flow northward via routes that involve crossing the complex bathymetry of the Scotia Arc. Recent observations of significant warming of these waters along the length of the Atlantic have highlighted the need to identify and understand the time-varying formation and export processes, and the controls on their properties and flows. Here, we review recent developments in understanding of the processes that control the changing flux of water through the main export route from the Weddell Sea into the Scotia Sea, and the transformations of the waters within the Scotia Sea and environs. We also present a synopsis of recent findings that relate to the climatic change of dense water properties within the Weddell Sea itself, in the context of known Atlantic-scale changes. Amongst the most significant findings are the discovery that the warming of waters exported from the Weddell Sea has been accompanied by a significant freshening, and that the episodic nature of the overflow into the Scotia Sea is markedly wind-controlled and can lead to significantly enhanced abyssal stratification. Key areas for focusing future research effort are outlined.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1098/rsta.2013.0041
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Polar Oceans
ISSN:	1364-503X
Additional Keywords:	Antarctic Bottom Water; dense water export; overturning circulation; abyssal mixing
Date made live:	09 Jun 2014 09:17 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/502621

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1098/rsta.2013.0041

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Polar Oceans

ISSN:

1364-503X

Additional Keywords:

Antarctic Bottom Water; dense water export; overturning circulation; abyssal mixing

Date made live:

09 Jun 2014 09:17 +0 (UTC)