A warm jet in a cold ocean

Jennifer A. MacKinnon (), Harper L. Simmons, John Hargrove, Jim Thomson, Thomas Peacock, Matthew H. Alford, Benjamin I. Barton, Samuel Boury, Samuel D. Brenner, Nicole Couto, Seth L. Danielson, Elizabeth C. Fine, Hans C. Graber, John Guthrie, Joanne E. Hopkins, Steven R. Jayne, Chanhyung Jeon, Thilo Klenz, Craig M. Lee, Yueng-Djern Lenn, Andrew J. Lucas, Björn Lund, Claire Mahaffey, Louisa Norman, Luc Rainville, Madison M. Smith, Leif N. Thomas, Sinhué Torres-Valdés and Kevin R. Wood
Additional contact information
Jennifer A. MacKinnon: University of California San Diego
Harper L. Simmons: University of Alaska Fairbanks
John Hargrove: University of Miami
Jim Thomson: University of Washington
Thomas Peacock: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Matthew H. Alford: University of California San Diego
Benjamin I. Barton: National Oceanography Centre
Samuel Boury: New York University
Samuel D. Brenner: University of Washington
Nicole Couto: University of California San Diego
Seth L. Danielson: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Elizabeth C. Fine: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Hans C. Graber: University of Miami
John Guthrie: University of Washington
Joanne E. Hopkins: National Oceanography Centre
Steven R. Jayne: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Chanhyung Jeon: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Thilo Klenz: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Craig M. Lee: University of Washington
Yueng-Djern Lenn: Bangor University
Andrew J. Lucas: University of California San Diego
Björn Lund: University of Miami
Claire Mahaffey: University of Liverpool
Louisa Norman: University of Liverpool
Luc Rainville: University of Washington
Madison M. Smith: University of Washington
Leif N. Thomas: Stanford University
Sinhué Torres-Valdés: Alfred Wegener Institute
Kevin R. Wood: University of Washington

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Unprecedented quantities of heat are entering the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean through Bering Strait, particularly during summer months. Though some heat is lost to the atmosphere during autumn cooling, a significant fraction of the incoming warm, salty water subducts (dives beneath) below a cooler fresher layer of near-surface water, subsequently extending hundreds of kilometers into the Beaufort Gyre. Upward turbulent mixing of these sub-surface pockets of heat is likely accelerating sea ice melt in the region. This Pacific-origin water brings both heat and unique biogeochemical properties, contributing to a changing Arctic ecosystem. However, our ability to understand or forecast the role of this incoming water mass has been hampered by lack of understanding of the physical processes controlling subduction and evolution of this this warm water. Crucially, the processes seen here occur at small horizontal scales not resolved by regional forecast models or climate simulations; new parameterizations must be developed that accurately represent the physics. Here we present novel high resolution observations showing the detailed process of subduction and initial evolution of warm Pacific-origin water in the southern Beaufort Gyre.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-22505-5

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22505-5

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