Two types of wind effect on the Circumpolar Deep Water inflow into the Amundsen Sea shelf.

Abstract

Though it has been believed that basal melting of the Amundsen Sea Ice Sheet is induced by intrusion of relatively warm Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW), direct field observation to support it is rare. During the austral summer season in 2010 and 2012, Korea Polar Research Institute conducted hydrographic surveys in the central Amundsen Sea shelf using the Korean IBRV ARAON. The data of CTD castings and yearlong mooring current meters indicate that the near bottom penetration of CDW into the shelf area has temporal variability at multiple time scales ranging from sub- seasonal to interannual. Such variations in the intensity of CDW intrusion may be attributed to changes in regional wind forcing. We will present two types of conceptual model for wind effect on the CDW inflow.10 and 2012, Korea Polar Research Institute conducted hydrographic surveys in the central Amundsen Sea shelf using the Korean IBRV ARAON. The data of CTD castings and yearlong mooring current meters indicate that the near bottom penetration of CDW into the shelf area has temporal variability at multiple time scales ranging from sub- seasonal to interannual. Such variations in the intensity of CDW intrusion may be attributed to changes in regional wind forcing. We will present two types of conceptual model for wind effect on the CDW inflow.