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The global Thermohaline Circulation (THC), driven by fluxes of heat and fresh water at the ocean surface, is known to be intimately involved with major vanations tn the Earth' climate. The East Greenland Coastal Current (EGCC) together with the East Greenland Current (EGC), represent the major surface currents drawing fresh water southwards in the North Atlantic and therefore play an important role in the THC. By identifying and quantifying Sub-Polar ocean processes such as the EGC we can consolidate our knowledge on present-day climate variability. To do so, hydro graphic data from cruise D298 was analyzed and volume transport calculated. We found that the EGC (initially 8.3 Sv) and the EGCC (initially 1.6 Sv), merge around Cape Farewell and that 2.2 Sv of volume transport is lost in the process. We suggest that a certain volume of the boundary currents is integrated into recirculation cells and that 2 2 Sv is exported southward. Further work is needed on the fresh water fluxes to investigate the exact quantity of fresh water exported from the EGC and EGCC into the North Atlantic.

Item Type:	Masters Coursework
Keywords:	North Atlantic, subpolar, gyre, Cape Farewell, ocean, current, mapping, East Greenland Current, circulation, boundary current, volume transport
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Oceanography
Research Field:	Physical Oceanography
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Other Environment
Objective Field:	Marine Oceanic Processes (excl. climate related)
Author:	Meyer, A (Dr Amelie Meyer)
ID Code:	125345
Year Published:	2006
Deposited By:	Oceans and Cryosphere
Deposited On:	2018-04-13
Last Modified:	2018-04-16
Downloads:	0