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Along-slope variability of cross-slope eddy transport in East Antarctica
Citation
Foppert, A and Rintoul, SR and England, MH, Along-slope variability of cross-slope eddy transport in East Antarctica, Geophysical Research Letters, 46, (14) pp. 8224-8233. ISSN 0094-8276 (2019) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
© 2019. American Geophysical Union.
Abstract
Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) transport across the Antarctic continental slope regulates the delivery of heat to the shelf and its availability to melt floating ice shelves. The cross‐slope density field, calculated from profiles collected by conductivity‐temperature‐depth‐tagged marine mammals on the East Antarctic slope (0–160°E, above 1,000‐ to 3,000‐m isobaths), indicates eddy‐driven overturning: onshore transport of CDW and offshore transport of shallower Antarctic Surface Water. Enhanced eddy activity, determined by a spice standard deviation threshold in the CDW layer, is present over about a third of the East Antarctic slope analyzed. Significantly stronger CDW transport in regions of elevated spice variability produces subsurface temperature anomalies of 0.2–0.25 °C relative to the East Antarctic average. Estimating eddy diffusivity from the hydrography yields about 0.8 m2/s of warm CDW transport to the shelf break in high‐variability regions. Variability of eddy‐induced CDW transport influences the reservoir of heat available for transport across the shelf break.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Southern Ocean, Antarctic slope, overturning circulation, eddies, eddy fluxes, water-mass exchange |
Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Oceanography |
Research Field: | Physical oceanography |
Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
Objective Group: | Understanding climate change |
Objective Field: | Understanding climate change not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Foppert, A (Dr Annie Foppert) |
UTAS Author: | Rintoul, SR (Dr Steve Rintoul) |
ID Code: | 140524 |
Year Published: | 2019 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 3 |
Deposited By: | Australian Antarctic Program Partnership |
Deposited On: | 2020-08-25 |
Last Modified: | 2022-08-29 |
Downloads: | 19 View Download Statistics |
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