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On sea ice concentration anomaly coherence in the southern Beaufort Sea
Author(s) -
Lukovich Jennifer V.,
Barber David G.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl022737
Subject(s) - upwelling , geology , sea ice , lead (geology) , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , oceanography , climatology , submarine pipeline , circumpolar star , anomaly (physics) , forcing (mathematics) , arctic ice pack , geomorphology , physics , condensed matter physics , quantum mechanics
The circumpolar flaw lead polynya system is a region of enhanced biological productivity and for significant portions of the annual cycle, dominates the exchange of energy and mass across the ocean‐sea ice‐atmosphere (OSA) interface. We investigate the nature of sea ice concentration (SIC) anomalies for spatial and temporal statistical persistence within a portion of this flaw lead system. We find such a structure in the shelf break zone between Amundsen Gulf and the Canada Basin. NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data is used to determine the potential roles of oceanic and atmospheric forcing in creating and maintaining this observed coherence in the SIC anomalies. Results suggest that the coherence pattern is consistent over the instrumental record (1979 to 2000), although it changes in shape and extent between years. The forcing mechanisms creating this coherence in SIC anomalies appear to be tied to surface wind‐driven upwelling in the shelf‐break areas of the Southern Beaufort Sea (SBS).