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The arrival of recently formed Labrador sea water in the Deep Western Boundary Current at 26.5°N
Author(s) -
Molinari Robert L.,
Fine Rana A.,
Wilson W. Douglas,
Curry Ruth G.,
Abell Jeff,
McCartney Michael S.
Publication year - 1998
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 - 10.1029/98gl01853
Subject(s) - hydrography , boundary current , geology , salinity , oceanography , current (fluid) , water mass , tracer , temperature salinity diagrams , series (stratigraphy) , climatology , ocean current , paleontology , physics , nuclear physics
The Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) of the North Atlantic is a principal conduit between the formation region for Labrador Sea Water (LSW) and the oceanic interior to the south. Time series (1985–1997) of hydrographic properties obtained in the DWBC at 26.5°N show that prior to 1994, temperature, salinity, and transient tracer properties within the LSW density range showed little indication of recently formed parcels. Properties characteristic of a newer version of LSW (cooler, fresher, and higher tracer concentrations) were observed beginning in 1994 and continuing through 1997. Longer time series of temperature and salinity, developed from a regional data base, show both the 1994 and a 1980–1981 event in the Abaco region. Both events are consistent with anomalies in the Labrador Sea that occurred some 10 years earlier. The 10‐year transit time from the Labrador Sea to 26.5°N is less than the 18‐year transit time inferred from earlier studies.