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Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay
Citation
Portela, E and Rintoul, SR and Bestley, S and Herraiz-Borreguero, L and van Wijk, E and McMahon, CR and Roquet, F and Hindell, M, Seasonal transformation and spatial variability of water masses within MacKenzie Polynya, Prydz Bay, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126, (12) Article e2021JC017748. ISSN 2169-9275 (2021) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
© 2021. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved
Abstract
We provide a detailed description of the spatial distribution, seasonality and transformation of the main water masses within MacKenzie Polynya (MP) in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, using data from instrumented southern elephant seals. Dense Shelf Water (DSW) formation in MP shows large spatial variability that is related to the (a) local bathymetry, (b) water column preconditioning from the presence/absence of different water masses, and (c) proximity to the Amery Ice Shelf meltwater outflow. MP exhibits sustained sea ice production and brine rejection (thus, salinity increase) from April to October. However, new DSW is only formed from June onward, when the mixed layer deepens and convection is strong enough to break the stratification set by Antarctic Surface Water above and Ice Shelf Water below. We found no evidence of DSW export from MP to Darnley polynya, as previously suggested. Rather, our observations suggest some DSW formed in Darnley Polynya may drain toward the western Prydz Bay. Then, DSW is exported offshore from Prydz Bay through the Prydz Channel. The interplay between sea ice formation, meltwater input, and sea floor topography is likely to explain why some coastal polynyas form more DSW than others, as well as the temporal variability in DSW formation within a particular polynya.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | polynya, Antarctic, dense shelf water, sea-ice formation, water mass transformation, Southern Ocean |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Oceanography |
| Research Field: | Physical oceanography |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
| Objective Field: | Antarctic and Southern Ocean oceanic processes |
| UTAS Author: | Rintoul, SR (Dr Steve Rintoul) |
| UTAS Author: | Bestley, S (Dr Sophie Bestley) |
| UTAS Author: | van Wijk, E (Ms Esmee van Wijk) |
| UTAS Author: | McMahon, CR (Dr Clive McMahon) |
| UTAS Author: | Hindell, M (Professor Mark Hindell) |
| ID Code: | 148511 |
| Year Published: | 2021 |
| Funding Support: | Australian Research Council (DE180100828) |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2022-01-17 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-02-24 |
| Downloads: | 2 View Download Statistics |
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