Variability of the ice export through Fram Strait in 1993–98: the winter 1994/95 anomaly

The origin of the large positive anomaly of the Fram Strait sea ice export which occurred in winter 1994/95 is analysed on the basis of a model simulation of the Arctic sea ice cover over the period 1993-98. The overall intra-annual and interannual variability in the model is in good agreement with observational estimates and the 1994/95 anomaly is well reproduced with an amplitude amounting to half of the mean winter value. Model results suggest that, concomitant to anomalous export velocities, larger than usual ice thickness in the strait contributes to the outstanding amplitude of the anomaly. Analysis on the ice thickness evolution in the strait indicates that the thick ice advected in Fram Strait at the end of the fall of 1994 originates in the anomalous cyclonic wind stress which prevailed during the preceding summer. This anomalous wind stress resulted in persistent convergence of the ice flow against the northern coasts of Canada and Greenland and in the formation of a large thickness anomaly north of Greenland. The anomaly then feeds the Fram Strait ice flow during those following winter months when the local wind forcing in the strait favours ice drift from the north-west. Our results suggest that short-term wind stress variations resulting in local thickness changes to the north of Fram Strait can lead to substantial variability of the Fram Strait ice export.     

An ice drift series from the Fram Strait January-March 1992 based on ERS-1 SAR data

A time series of ERS-1 SAR images is used to estimate ice drift in the Fram Strait January-March 1992 (the ERS-1 mission first ice phase). The images all cover the same area. The sampling interval is three days. The paper shows examples of estimation of ice drift and divergence from this image time series. Divergence is an important quantity in order to estimate ice production and hence mixing of the ocean water masses.
A reference configuration of ice points is defined for each image. These ice points are identified in the successive image giving a set of point pairs. These point pairs are input for statistical analysis.
Upward looking sonars (ULS) and current meters are moored below the scene. A combination of the SAR derived dynamics and the ULS derived ice thickness series will give opportunities to estimate ice mass flux into the Greenland Sea, and to improve ice classification algorithms.     

Particle-laden Eurasian Arctic sea ice: observations from July and August 1987

During the summer 1987 expedition of the polar research vessel'Polarstern'in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean, sea ice at about 84-86°N and 20-30°E was found to have high concentrations of particulate material. The particle-laden ice occurred in patches which often darkened more than half the ice surface at our northernmost positions. Much of this ice appeared to be within the Siberian Branch of the Transpolar Drift stream, which transports deformed, multi-year ice from the Siberian shelves westward across the Eurasian Basin. Lithogenic sediment, which is the major component of the particulate material, may have been incorporated during ice formation on the shallow Siberian seas. Diatoms collected from the particle-rich ice surfaces support this conclusion, as assemblages were dominated by a marine benthic species similar to that reported from sea ice off the coast of northeast Siberia. Based on drift trajectories of buoys deployed on the ice it appears that much of the particle-laden ice exited the Arctic Ocean through the Fram Strait and joined the East Greenland Current.
Very different sea ice characteristics were found east of the Yermak Plateau and north of Svalbard and Frans Josef Land up to about 83-84°N. Here sea ice was thinner, less deformed, with lower amounts of lithogenic sediment and diatoms. The diatom assemblage was dominated by planktonic freshwater species. Trajectories of buoys deployed on sea ice in this region indicated a tendency for southward transport to the Yermak Plateau or into the Barents Sea.     

Hydrographic conditions in the Fram Strait, summer 1982

Hydrographic (CTD) observations obtained with R/V'Lance'in July-August 1982 across the Fram Strait are presented. The extent and the presence of traditional water masses such as Atlantic Water, Polar Water and Greenland Sea Deep Water are discussed. The complicated hydrographical structure in the upper water masses due to eddies and fronts near the ice edge is noted. An intermediate water mass characterized by a salinity minimum is found all across the Strait, and is suggested to originate in the Greenland Sea. The deep water in the south-west part of the Strait shows strong horizontal salinity and temperature gradients, and the structure of the corresponding station profiles indicates large hydrographical activity. This is in contrast to the east-north-east part, where the horizontal gradients are much weaker and the profiles much smoother. Thus most of the deep-and bottom-water communication between the Greenland/ Norwegian Seas and the Arctic Ocean seems to take place west of the 0° meridian.     

Source, density and composition of sympagic fauna in the Barents Sea

The sympagic fauna (= ice fauna) of the Barents Sea was investigated on nine different cruises in 1982-1988. Each cruise lasted from two to five weeks. Sampling techniques were based on scuba diving. The abundant sympagic organisms were the polar cod ( Boreogadus saida ) and the three amphipods Apherusa glacialis, Onisimus sp. and Gammarus wilkitzkii .
Mean biomass-values (wet weight) of the invertebrate sympagic fauna ranged from 0 to 2 g/m². Values above 0.001 g/m² were not recorded in five of the nine cruises. This is orders of magnitude lower than mean values recorded in multi-year ice north of Svalbard and in the Fram Strait where values between 1-10g/m² are quite common.
Apherusa glacialis seemed to have the best spreading capacity of the three most conspicuous amphipods. Gammarus wilkitzkii was most dependent on a passive transport with the ice.
Sympagic amphipods play an important part in a food chain from microalgae to polar cod and marine birds in areas covered with ice, especially in areas with multi-year ice.     

北极海冰与大气环流耦合主模态的时空特征分析

对1979—2009年月平均的CFSR（The Climate Forecast System Reanalysis）海冰密集度（SIC）和海平面气压（SLP）资料进行多变量经验正交函数分解（MV—EOF）,得出耦合主模态,并通过对温度、位势高度和风场的回归分析,进一步探寻海冰与大气环流的关系,第一模态SLP的特征为北极涛动（AO）,SIC呈离散的正负中心分布但大体为东西反位相,AO正位相时,喀拉海、拉普捷夫海、东西伯利亚海和鄂霍次克海海冰减少,巴芬湾、波弗特海、楚科奇海和白令海海冰增加。耦合第二模态的SLP呈偶极子分布,负、正异常中心在巴伦支海和波弗特海,SIC在巴伦支海,弗拉姆海峡,格陵兰海,拉布拉多海和白令海,鄂霍次克海地区有正异常,在喀拉海、拉普捷夫海、东西伯利亚海、楚科齐海和波弗特海为负异常。耦合第三模态SLP在冰岛地区存在负异常中心,在拉普捷夫海地区有正异常中心,SIC在巴伦支海北部、弗拉姆海峡、格陵兰海为负异常,其余地区全为正异常。 对SLP和SIC分别进行EOF分解,并与耦合模态进行比较,SLP的EOF主模态的时空分布与耦合模态中SLP的时空分布十分相似,SIC的EOF模态的时空分布则与耦合模态中SIC的时空分布有较大差别,说明耦合模态对SIC的分布影响较大,即大气环流对海冰分布的影响为主要的过程,海冰对大尺度的大气环流的模态的影响不明显。     

Direct measurements of volume transports through Fram Strait

Heat and freshwater transports through Fram Strait are understood to have a significant influence on the hydrographic conditions in the Arctic Ocean and on water mass modifications in the Nordic seas. To determine these transports and their variability reliable estimates of the volume transport through the strait are required. Current meter moorings were deployed in Fram Strait from September 1997 to September 1999 in the framework of the EU MAST III Variability of Exchanges in the Northern Seas programme. The monthly mean velocity fields reveal marked velocity variations over seasonal and annual time scales, and the spatial structure of the northward flowing West Spitsbergen Current and the southward East Greenland Current with a maximum in spring and a minimum in summer. The volume transport obtained by averaging the monthly means over two years amounts to 9.5 ± 1.4 Sv to the north and 11.1 ± 1.7 Sv to the south (1 Sv = 10⁶ m³s⁻¹). The West Spitsbergen Current has a strong barotropic and a weaker baroclinic component; in the East Greenland Current barotropic and baroclinic components are of similar magnitude. The net transport through the strait is 4.2 ± 2.3 Sv to the south. The obtained northward and southward transports are significantly larger than earlier estimates in the literature; however, within its range of uncertainty the balance obtained from a two year average is consistent with earlier estimates.     

The role of the West Spitsbergen Current in the formation of ice edge position

The intensity of sea-ice interaction in the Fram Strait is estimated from hydrographic data by use of three different methods. Preliminary results concerning fresh water formation rate are reported.     

Modeling Arctic Ocean heat transport and warming episodes in the 20th century caused by the intruding Atlantic Water

This study investigates the Arctic Ocean warming episodes in the 20th century using both a high-resolution coupled global climate model and historical observations .The model,with no flux adjustment,reproduces well the Atlantic Water core temperature(AWCT) in the Arctic Ocean and shows that four largest decadal-scale warming episodes occurred in the 1930s,70s,80s,and 90s,in agreement with the hydrographic observational data.The difference is that there was no pre-warming prior to the 1930s episode,while there were two pre-warming episodes in the 1970s and 80s prior to the 1990s,leading the 1990s into the largest and prolonged warming in the 20th century.Over the last century,the simulated heat transport via Fram Strait and the Barents Sea was estimated to be,on average,31.32 TW and 14.82 TW,respectively,while the Bering Strait also provides 15.94 TW heat into the western Arctic Ocean.Heat transport into the Arctic Ocean by the Atlantic Water via Fram Strait and the Barents Sea correlates significantly with AWCT(C=0.75 ) at 0- lag.The modeled North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO) index has a significant correlation with the heat transport(C=0.37).The observed AWCT has a significant correlation with both the modeled AWCT(C=0.49) and the heat transport(C=0.41). However,the modeled NAO index does not significantly correlate with either the observed AWCT(C=0.03) or modeled AWCT(C=0.16) at a zero-lag,indicating that the Arctic climate system is far more complex than expected.     

Contribution of a pathway through the Arctic Ocean to the recent reduction in the ice cover

The sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean has been reducing and hit the low record in the summer of 2007.The anomaly was extremely large in the Pacific sector. The sea level height in the Bering Sea vs.the Greenland Sea has been analyzed and compared with the current meter data through the Bering Strait.A recent peak existed as a consequence of atmospheric circulation and is considered to contribute to inflow of the Pacific Water into the Arctic Basin.The timing of the Pacific Water inflow matched with the sea ice reduction in the Pacific sector and suggests a significant increase in heat flux.This component should be included in the model prediction for answering the question when the Arctic sea ice becomes a seasonal ice cover.     

北极东北航道维利基茨基海峡海冰时空变化及适航性分析

利用2002—2013年的海冰密集度数据对北极东北航道通航关键区域——维利基茨基海峡的海冰分布特征和通航性进行了分析研究。结果表明,近十年来从8月中下旬到10月中旬海峡海面状况适合船舶航行;海冰冰情年际变化很大,对维利基茨基海峡通航天数有明显的影响;海峡每年可通航时间基本在40 d以上,其开通时间年际变化较大,从7—9月不等,而结束时间相对集中在10月份。     

Contribution of waters of Atlantic and Pacific origin in the Northeast Water Polynya

Measurements of nitrate and phosphate taken in the Northeast Water Polynya (NEWP) during the summer of 1993 have been used to identify the contribution of waters of Atlantic and Pacific origin in the polynya. Since waters from the northern Pacific exhibit a deficit in nitrate relative to phosphate due to denitrification in low oxygen waters, the relationship between nitrate and phosphate can be used to distinguish between oceanic waters of Pacific and Atlantic origin. The Pacific Water enters the Arctic Ocean through Bering Strait and flows along the northern coasts of Alaska and Canada. Some of this water exits through Fram Strait and may therefore enter the polynya which is situated above the continental shelf off the north-eastern coast of Greenland. Compared to data from the Greenland Sea, which only show a N–P relationship of typical Atlantic Water, the data from the Northeast Water Polynya show that the upper waters of the polynya bear a clear signal of waters of Pacific origin. In the surface mixed layer an average of about 90% is found to have Pacific N–P characteristics. Below the surface mixed layer the amount of Pacific derived water decreases through the halocline and from about 150 m to the bottom only typical Atlantic Water is found.     

Trends and variability of sea ice in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, 1953–2001

The extent and duration of sea ice in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait has a major impact on the timing and strength of the marine production along West Greenland. The advance and retreat of the sea ice follows a predictable pattern, with maximum extent typically in March. We examine the area of sea ice in March in three overlapping study regions centred on Disko Bay on the west coast of Greenland. Sea ice concentration estimates derived from satellite passive microwave data are available for the years 1979-2001. We extend the record back in time by digitizing ice charts from the Danish Meteorological Institute, 1953-1981. There is reasonable agreement between the chart data and the satellite data during the three years of overlap: 1979-1981. We find a significant increasing trend in sea ice for the 49-year period (1953-2001) for the study regions that extend into Davis Strait and Baffin Bay. The cyclical nature of the wintertime ice area is also evident, with a period of about 8 to 9 years. Correlation of the winter sea ice concentration with the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index shows moderately high values in Baffin Bay. The correlation of ice concentration with the previous winter's NAO is high in Davis Strait and suggests that next winter's ice conditions can be predicted to some extent by this winter's NAO index.     

白令海峡治理的合作机制研究

近年来随着北极冰盖的融化,北极通航已成为可能,而白令海峡作为北极航道重要的出口/入口,其战略地位也将逐步显现并被各国关注。在讨论白令海峡的治理与合作时,首先要明确白令海峡是用于国际航行的海峡,而作为海峡沿岸国的美国和俄罗斯对于白令海峡的管控与合作将成为影响未来北极航行的重要因素。为同时保障海峡沿岸国与使用国的利益,可借鉴马六甲海峡的治理经验,在现有治理机制的基础上进一步深化海峡沿岸国与海峡使用国的合作机制。中国作为海峡使用国也有必要积极参与白令海峡的合作治理。     

Hydrographic and current measurements in the Fram Strait, August 1981

The hydrographic (CTD) observations and pendulum current measurements obtained with M/S 'Lance' in August 1981 in the area west and north of Spitsbergen, are presented. The warm and saline northward flow, known as the West Spitsbergen Current, is found to follow the shelf break. In the Fram Strait the hydrographic structure is complicated because of eddies and other transient movements. The current measurements suggest a two-layer structure where the velocity vector rotates in opposite directions in the two layers with a period near the semidiurnal tidal period.     

Structure of the Fram Strait branch of the boundary current in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean

Recent mooring-based observations at several locations along the continental slope of the Arctic Ocean's Eurasian Basin showed a transformation of the Boundary Current (BC) from a mostly barotropic flow in Fram Strait to a jet-like baroclinic current northeast of Svalbard, and the reemergence of the barotropic structure of the flow in the eastern Eurasian Basin. This transformation is accompanied by a weakening of the flow from ～24 cm/s in Fram Strait to ～5 cm/s at the Lomonosov Ridge. The maximum of the baroclinic component of the BC at an intermediate depth (～200–370 m) is associated with the Atlantic Water core. The depth range of the baroclinic current maximum is controlled by cross-slope density gradients above and below the baroclinic velocity maximum as follows from the geostrophic balance of forces. According to the model simulations, the BC splits into shallow and deep branches in the proximity of Svalbard due to a divergence of isobaths, confirming topographically-controlled BC behavior. The shallow branch is located at a shelf break with a typical bottom depth of ～200 m and current speed of up to ～24 cm/s. The discussed results, which provide insight on some basic aspects of the dynamics of the BC (the major oceanic heat source for the Arctic Ocean), may be of importance for understanding of the ocean's role in shaping the arctic climate system state.     

北半球夏季中高纬度大气阻塞对北极海冰变化的影响

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析逐日500 h Pa高度场资料,对北半球夏季中高纬度大气阻塞特征进行统计分析,发现大气阻塞活动频率高的地区主要集中在白令海峡区域、鄂霍次克海区域、欧亚大陆区域及格陵兰区域。而通过NSIDC提供的卫星观测资料发现近30年夏季海冰容易减少的区域正好对应阻塞活动北部的高纬度地区。分别通过对以上4个区域有阻塞发生相对没有阻塞发生时的500 h Pa位势高度场、地面温度场、850 h Pa经向瞬变热通量输送和平流输送等异常变化场进行对比分析,结果发现夏季中高纬度阻塞频率的增加对海冰的减少有显著影响,主要体现在阻塞的发生发展可通过增加高纬度地面温度、对极地的热量输送和暖平流输送来加快海冰的融化。这种阻塞引起的热力作用在鄂霍次克海和欧亚大陆区域效果更为显著。     

太平洋入流及其与北冰洋异常变化的联系

太平洋水通过白令海峡进入北冰洋 ,对北冰洋的海冰、水团和环流产生重要影响。在过去的十几年中 ,北冰洋的海冰和海洋系统发生了前所未有的异常变化 ;与此同时 ,白令海峡太平洋入流水的流量和性质发生了改变 ,太平洋水在北冰洋中的运移路径和影响范围也有所不同 ,这些变化之间的关系有待于进一步的研究。本文综述了有关的研究进展 ,探讨了北冰洋异常变化与太平洋入流变化之间的可能联系。     

北极海冰消融情景下东北航道通航性能演变分析

全球气候增暖,导致北极海冰消融加速,冰上丝绸之路的开通逐渐提上日程.本文针对2030-2070年俄罗斯8个重要港口通过东北航道到达白令海峡的通航性能,采用6种CMIP5气候模式在2种排放情景下的海冰数据,以及PC6破冰船和普通商船2种船型,分别对最优航线、通航时长、可通航里程以及通航成本4项要素进行研究.主要结论为:①...     

The structure and behavior of the arctic cyclone in summer analyzed by the JRA-25/JCDAS data

In this study, three-dimensional structures and the life-time behavior of arctic cyclones are investigated as case studies, using reanalysis data of JRA-25 and JCDAS. In recent years, arctic region has undergone drastic warming in conjunction with the reduced sea ice concentration in summer. The rapid reduction of the sea ice concentration is explained, to some extent, by a pressure dipole of the arctic cyclone and Beaufort high over the Arctic Ocean. This paper presents some case studies for the structure of the arctic cyclone.It is found by the analysis of this study that the arctic cyclone indicates many differences in structure and behavior compared with the mid-latitude cyclone. The arctic cyclones move rather randomly in direction over the Arctic Ocean. The arctic cyclone has a barotropic structure in the vertical from the surface to the stratosphere. The arctic cyclone detected at the sea level pressure is connected with the polar vortex at the 500 hPa level and above. Importantly, the arctic cyclone has a cold core in the troposphere and a warm core around the 200 hPa level. The mechanism of the formation is discussed based on the analyzed structure of the arctic cyclones.