Open AccessResearchers explore Arctic freshwater's role in ocean circulation
Author(s) -
Forman Steven L.,
Maslowski Wieslaw,
Andrews John T.,
Lubinski David,
Steele Michael,
Zhang Jain,
Lammers Richard,
Peterson Bruce
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/00eo00114
Subject(s) - oceanography , arctic , continental shelf , the arctic , water mass , shore , ocean current , geology , environmental science
A critical, but insufficiently understood, component of global change is the influence of Arctic freshwater input on water mass exchange between the Arctic Ocean and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Four of the Earth's 10 largest river systems, the Mackenzie, Ob,Yenisei, and Lena, contribute water to the Arctic shore (Figure 1) from a vast watershed that drains continental interiors. This river discharge flows into the world's largest contiguous continental shelf and supplies over 50% (1823 km 3 ) of the riverine input to the Arctic Ocean.