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Seasonal variations in the upper Arctic Ocean as observed at T‐3
Author(s) -
Morison James,
Smith J. Dungan
Publication year - 1981
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/gl008i007p00753
Subject(s) - mixed layer , hydrography , arctic , the arctic , salinity , layer (electronics) , climatology , mixed phase , oceanography , flux (metallurgy) , temperature salinity diagrams , geology , surface layer , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , phase (matter) , materials science , physics , metallurgy , composite material , quantum mechanics
Hydrographic data from T‐3 are analyzed to illustrate the behavior of the Arctic mixed layer. The mixed layer depth fluctuates 11 m annually and mixed layer salinity fluctuates 0.32‰. The fluctuations in total salt content are consistent with theoretical work by Maykut and are in phase with mixed layer depth, indicating changes in the mixed layer are controlled by salt flux. Deepening of the mixed layer brings 0.3 kcal cm −2 yr −1 of heat to the surface from the ocean below.