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Ross sea oceanography and antarctic bottom water formation

1970; Elsevier BV; Volume: 17; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0011-7471(70)90046-x

1878-2493

Stanley S. Jacobs, Anthony F. Amos, Peter M. Bruchhausen,

Geology and Paleoclimatology Research

The oceanographic features of the Ross Sea during the austral summer are described, based primarily upon observations taken aboard the U.S.N.S. Eltanin in 1968. Surface-actuated multiple samplers (SAMS) provided calibration data for electronically recorded in situ salinity-temperature-depth (STD) measurements. The eastern portion of Pennell Bank differs considerably from its outline on earlier charts. The westerly current of Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) over the Ross Sea continental slope provides an dynamic barrier to northwanrd thermohaline flow of dense Ross Sea Shelf Water (RSSW). Insufficient brine may be releasd by the freezing of sea ice to produce the major portion of RSSW. Ice Shelf Water (ISW), identified by a deep temperature minimum, has temperatures as low as — 2·13°C near its source at the base of the Ross Ice Shelf. Low-salinity Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) is formed during sumer over the continental slope in the eastern Ross Sea from a mixture of CDW and ISW. High salinity AABW is produced in summer in the western Ross Sea from a combination of RSSW and CDW. On the continental slope both AABW types are characterized by a sharp decrease in temperature and increase in oxygen near bottom. Gradient changes in continuously-recorded vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and light scattering were observed between CDW and AABW on several stations. Bottom current measurements revealed strong westerly and northerly flows down and along the continental slope, with magnitudes exceeding 15 cm/sec at eight locations.