Articles | Volume 19, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-671-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-671-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 May 2023
Research article |
| 22 May 2023
| 22 May 2023
Sudden, local temperature increase above the continental slope in the southern Weddell Sea, Antarctica
Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
Vår Dundas
Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
Markus Janout
Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
Sandra Tippenhauer
Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
Related authors
Julius Lauber, Tore Hattermann, Laura de Steur, Elin Darelius, and Agneta Fransson
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-904, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-904, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Recent studies have highlighted the potential vulnerability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet to atmospheric and oceanic changes. We present new insights from observations from three oceanic moorings below Fimbulisen Ice Shelf from 2009 to 2021. We find that relatively warm water masses reach below the ice shelf both close to the surface and at depth with implications for the basal melting of Fimbulisen.
Vår Dundas, Elin Darelius, Kjersti Daae, Nadine Steiger, Yoshihiro Nakayama, and Tae-Wan Kim
Ocean Sci., 18, 1339–1359, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1339-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1339-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Ice shelves in the Amundsen Sea are thinning rapidly as ocean currents bring warm water into cavities beneath the floating ice. We use 2-year-long mooring records and 16-year-long model simulations to describe the hydrography and circulation near the ice front between Siple and Carney Islands. We find that temperatures here are lower than at neighboring ice fronts and that the transport of heat toward the cavity is governed by wind stress over the Amundsen Sea continental shelf.
Bogi Hansen, Turið Poulsen, Karin Margretha Húsgarð Larsen, Hjálmar Hátún, Svein Østerhus, Elin Darelius, Barbara Berx, Detlef Quadfasel, and Kerstin Jochumsen
Ocean Sci., 13, 873–888, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-873-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-873-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
On its way towards the Arctic, an important branch of warm Atlantic water passes through the Faroese Channels, but, in spite of more than a century of investigations, the detailed flow pattern through this channel system has not been resolved. This has strong implications for estimates of oceanic heat transport towards the Arctic. Here, we combine observations from various sources, which together paint a coherent picture of the Atlantic water flow and heat transport through this channel system.
Stefanie Semper and Elin Darelius
Ocean Sci., 13, 77–93, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-77-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-77-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Velocity measurements from moorings at the shelf break in the southern Weddell Sea reveal strong diurnal tidal currents, which are enhanced by ca. 50 % in austral summer compared to winter. A numerical code describing coastal trapped waves (CTWs) is used to explore the effect of changing stratification and circulation on wave properties. It is found that near-resonance between CTWs and diurnal tides during austral summer can explain the observed enhancement of diurnal tidal currents.
Jenny E. Ullgren, Elin Darelius, and Ilker Fer
Ocean Sci., 12, 451–470, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-451-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-451-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
One-year long moored measurements of currents and hydrographic properties in the overflow region of the Faroe Bank Channel have provided a more accurate observational-based estimate of the volume transport, entrainment, and eddy diffusivities associated with the overflow plume. The data set resolves the temporal variability and covers the entire lateral and vertical extent of the plume.
E. Darelius, I. Fer, T. Rasmussen, C. Guo, and K. M. H. Larsen
Ocean Sci., 11, 855–871, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-855-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-855-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Quasi-regular eddies are known to be generated in the outflow of dense water through the Faroe Bank Channel. One year long mooring records from the plume region show that (1) the energy associated with the eddies varies by a factor of 10 throughout the year and (2) the frequency of the eddies shifts between 3 and 6 days and is related to the strength of the outflow. Similar variability is shown by a high-resolution regional model and the observations agree with theory on baroclinic instability.
Ole Pinner, Friederike Pollmann, Markus Janout, Gunnar Voet, and Torsten Kanzow
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2444, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2444, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Weddell Sea Bottom Water gravity current transports dense water from the continental shelf to the deep sea and is crucial for the formation of new deep sea water. Build on vertical profiles and time series measured in the northwestern Weddell Sea, we apply 3 methods to distinguish turbulence caused by internal waves from turbulence by other sources. We find that in the upper part of the gravity current, internal waves are important for the mixing of less dense water down into the current.
Ivan Kuznetsov, Benjamin Rabe, Alexey Androsov, Ying-Chih Fang, Mario Hoppmann, Alejandra Quintanilla-Zurita, Sven Harig, Sandra Tippenhauer, Kirstin Schulz, Volker Mohrholz, Ilker Fer, Vera Fofonova, and Markus Janout
Ocean Sci., 20, 759–777, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-759-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-759-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our research introduces a tool for dynamically mapping the Arctic Ocean using data from the MOSAiC experiment. Incorporating extensive data into a model clarifies the ocean's structure and movement. Our findings on temperature, salinity, and currents reveal how water layers mix and identify areas of intense water movement. This enhances understanding of Arctic Ocean dynamics and supports climate impact studies. Our work is vital for comprehending this key region in global climate science.
Julius Lauber, Tore Hattermann, Laura de Steur, Elin Darelius, and Agneta Fransson
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-904, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-904, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Recent studies have highlighted the potential vulnerability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet to atmospheric and oceanic changes. We present new insights from observations from three oceanic moorings below Fimbulisen Ice Shelf from 2009 to 2021. We find that relatively warm water masses reach below the ice shelf both close to the surface and at depth with implications for the basal melting of Fimbulisen.
Céline Heuzé, Oliver Huhn, Maren Walter, Natalia Sukhikh, Salar Karam, Wiebke Körtke, Myriel Vredenborg, Klaus Bulsiewicz, Jürgen Sültenfuß, Ying-Chih Fang, Christian Mertens, Benjamin Rabe, Sandra Tippenhauer, Jacob Allerholt, Hailun He, David Kuhlmey, Ivan Kuznetsov, and Maria Mallet
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 5517–5534, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5517-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5517-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Gases dissolved in the ocean water not used by the ecosystem (or "passive tracers") are invaluable to track water over long distances and investigate the processes that modify its properties. Unfortunately, especially so in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean, such gas measurements are sparse. We here present a data set of several passive tracers (anthropogenic gases, noble gases and their isotopes) collected over the full ocean depth, weekly, during the 1-year drift in the Arctic during MOSAiC.
Julian Gutt, Stefanie Arndt, David Keith Alan Barnes, Horst Bornemann, Thomas Brey, Olaf Eisen, Hauke Flores, Huw Griffiths, Christian Haas, Stefan Hain, Tore Hattermann, Christoph Held, Mario Hoppema, Enrique Isla, Markus Janout, Céline Le Bohec, Heike Link, Felix Christopher Mark, Sebastien Moreau, Scarlett Trimborn, Ilse van Opzeeland, Hans-Otto Pörtner, Fokje Schaafsma, Katharina Teschke, Sandra Tippenhauer, Anton Van de Putte, Mia Wege, Daniel Zitterbart, and Dieter Piepenburg
Biogeosciences, 19, 5313–5342, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5313-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5313-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Long-term ecological observations are key to assess, understand and predict impacts of environmental change on biotas. We present a multidisciplinary framework for such largely lacking investigations in the East Antarctic Southern Ocean, combined with case studies, experimental and modelling work. As climate change is still minor here but is projected to start soon, the timely implementation of this framework provides the unique opportunity to document its ecological impacts from the very onset.
Vår Dundas, Elin Darelius, Kjersti Daae, Nadine Steiger, Yoshihiro Nakayama, and Tae-Wan Kim
Ocean Sci., 18, 1339–1359, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1339-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1339-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Ice shelves in the Amundsen Sea are thinning rapidly as ocean currents bring warm water into cavities beneath the floating ice. We use 2-year-long mooring records and 16-year-long model simulations to describe the hydrography and circulation near the ice front between Siple and Carney Islands. We find that temperatures here are lower than at neighboring ice fronts and that the transport of heat toward the cavity is governed by wind stress over the Amundsen Sea continental shelf.
Jens A. Hölemann, Bennet Juhls, Dorothea Bauch, Markus Janout, Boris P. Koch, and Birgit Heim
Biogeosciences, 18, 3637–3655, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-3637-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-3637-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The Arctic Ocean receives large amounts of river water rich in terrestrial dissolved organic matter (tDOM), which is an important component of the Arctic carbon cycle. Our analysis shows that mixing of three major freshwater sources is the main factor that regulates the distribution of tDOM concentrations in the Siberian shelf seas. In this context, the formation and melting of the land-fast ice in the Laptev Sea and the peak spring discharge of the Lena River are of particular importance.
H. Jakob Belter, Thomas Krumpen, Stefan Hendricks, Jens Hoelemann, Markus A. Janout, Robert Ricker, and Christian Haas
The Cryosphere, 14, 2189–2203, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2189-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2189-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The validation of satellite sea ice thickness (SIT) climate data records with newly acquired moored sonar SIT data shows that satellite products provide modal rather than mean SIT in the Laptev Sea region. This tendency of satellite-based SIT products to underestimate mean SIT needs to be considered for investigations of sea ice volume transports. Validation of satellite SIT in the first-year-ice-dominated Laptev Sea will support algorithm development for more reliable SIT records in the Arctic.
Bogi Hansen, Turið Poulsen, Karin Margretha Húsgarð Larsen, Hjálmar Hátún, Svein Østerhus, Elin Darelius, Barbara Berx, Detlef Quadfasel, and Kerstin Jochumsen
Ocean Sci., 13, 873–888, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-873-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-873-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
On its way towards the Arctic, an important branch of warm Atlantic water passes through the Faroese Channels, but, in spite of more than a century of investigations, the detailed flow pattern through this channel system has not been resolved. This has strong implications for estimates of oceanic heat transport towards the Arctic. Here, we combine observations from various sources, which together paint a coherent picture of the Atlantic water flow and heat transport through this channel system.
Amelie Driemel, Eberhard Fahrbach, Gerd Rohardt, Agnieszka Beszczynska-Möller, Antje Boetius, Gereon Budéus, Boris Cisewski, Ralph Engbrodt, Steffen Gauger, Walter Geibert, Patrizia Geprägs, Dieter Gerdes, Rainer Gersonde, Arnold L. Gordon, Hannes Grobe, Hartmut H. Hellmer, Enrique Isla, Stanley S. Jacobs, Markus Janout, Wilfried Jokat, Michael Klages, Gerhard Kuhn, Jens Meincke, Sven Ober, Svein Østerhus, Ray G. Peterson, Benjamin Rabe, Bert Rudels, Ursula Schauer, Michael Schröder, Stefanie Schumacher, Rainer Sieger, Jüri Sildam, Thomas Soltwedel, Elena Stangeew, Manfred Stein, Volker H Strass, Jörn Thiede, Sandra Tippenhauer, Cornelis Veth, Wilken-Jon von Appen, Marie-France Weirig, Andreas Wisotzki, Dieter A. Wolf-Gladrow, and Torsten Kanzow
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 9, 211–220, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-211-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-211-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Our oceans are always in motion – huge water masses are circulated by winds and by global seawater density gradients resulting from different water temperatures and salinities. Measuring temperature and salinity of the world's oceans is crucial e.g. to understand our climate. Since 1983, the research icebreaker Polarstern has been the basis of numerous water profile measurements in the Arctic and the Antarctic. We report on a unique collection of 33 years of polar salinity and temperature data.
Stefanie Semper and Elin Darelius
Ocean Sci., 13, 77–93, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-77-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-77-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Velocity measurements from moorings at the shelf break in the southern Weddell Sea reveal strong diurnal tidal currents, which are enhanced by ca. 50 % in austral summer compared to winter. A numerical code describing coastal trapped waves (CTWs) is used to explore the effect of changing stratification and circulation on wave properties. It is found that near-resonance between CTWs and diurnal tides during austral summer can explain the observed enhancement of diurnal tidal currents.
Jenny E. Ullgren, Elin Darelius, and Ilker Fer
Ocean Sci., 12, 451–470, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-451-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-451-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
One-year long moored measurements of currents and hydrographic properties in the overflow region of the Faroe Bank Channel have provided a more accurate observational-based estimate of the volume transport, entrainment, and eddy diffusivities associated with the overflow plume. The data set resolves the temporal variability and covers the entire lateral and vertical extent of the plume.
E. Darelius, I. Fer, T. Rasmussen, C. Guo, and K. M. H. Larsen
Ocean Sci., 11, 855–871, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-855-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-855-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Quasi-regular eddies are known to be generated in the outflow of dense water through the Faroe Bank Channel. One year long mooring records from the plume region show that (1) the energy associated with the eddies varies by a factor of 10 throughout the year and (2) the frequency of the eddies shifts between 3 and 6 days and is related to the strength of the outflow. Similar variability is shown by a high-resolution regional model and the observations agree with theory on baroclinic instability.
I. A. Dmitrenko, S. A. Kirillov, N. Serra, N. V. Koldunov, V. V. Ivanov, U. Schauer, I. V. Polyakov, D. Barber, M. Janout, V. S. Lien, M. Makhotin, and Y. Aksenov
Ocean Sci., 10, 719–730, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-10-719-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-10-719-2014, 2014
T. Krumpen, M. Janout, K. I. Hodges, R. Gerdes, F. Girard-Ardhuin, J. A. Hölemann, and S. Willmes
The Cryosphere, 7, 349–363, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-349-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-349-2013, 2013
C. Wegner, D. Bauch, J. A. Hölemann, M. A. Janout, B. Heim, A. Novikhin, H. Kassens, and L. Timokhov
Biogeosciences, 10, 1117–1129, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-1117-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-1117-2013, 2013
Cited articles
Abrahamsen, E. P., Meijers, A. J., Polzin, K. L., Naveira Garabato, A. C.,
King, B. A., Firing, Y. L., Sallée, J. B., Sheen, K. L., Gordon, A. L.,
Huber, B. A., and Meredith, M. P.: Stabilization of dense Antarctic water
supply to the Atlantic Ocean overturning circulation, Nat. Clim. Change,
9, 742–746, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-019-0561-2, 2019. a
Argo: What is Argo?, https://argo.ucsd.edu/, last access: 5 December 2022. a
Bull, C. Y., Jenkins, A., Jourdain, N. C., Vaňková, I., Holland, P. R.,
Mathiot, P., Hausmann, U., and Sallée, J. B.: Remote Control of
Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf Melt Rates by the Antarctic Slope Current, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 126, e2020JC016550, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016550, 2021. a, b, c, d, e
Coriolis project: Measurements for ocean understanding, https://www.coriolis.eu.org, last access: 5 December 2022. a
Daae, K., Fer, I., and Darelius, E.: Variability and Mixing of the Filchner
Overflow Plume on the Continental Slope, Weddell Sea, J. Phys.
Oceanogr., 49, 3–20, https://doi.org/10.1175/jpo-d-18-0093.1, 2019. a
Daae, K., Hattermann, T., Darelius, E., Mueller, R. D., Naughten, K. A.,
Timmermann, R., and Hellmer, H. H.: Necessary Conditions for Warm Inflow
Towards the Filchner Ice Shelf, Weddell Sea, Geophys. Res. Lett.,
47, e2020GL089237, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089237, 2020. a
Darelius, E., Smedsrud, L. H., Østerhus, S., Foldvik, A., and Gammelsrød,
T.: Structure and variability of the Filchner overflow plume, Tellus A, 61,
446–464, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0870.2009.00391.x, 2009. a, b
Darelius, E., Makinson, K., Daae, K., Fer, I., Holland, P. R., and Nicholls,
K. W.: Circulation and hydrography in the Filchner Depression, J.
Geophys. Res., 119, 1–18, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JC010225,
2014a. a
Darelius, E., Strand, K. O., Østerhus, S., Gammelsrød, T., Årthun,
M., and Fer, I.: On the seasonal signal of the Filchner Overflow, Weddell
Sea, Antarctica, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 44, 1230–1243,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-13-0180.1, 2014b. a
Darelius, E., Fer, I., and Nicholls, K. W.: Observed vulnerability of
Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf to wind-driven inflow of warm deep water, Nat.
Commun., 7, 12300, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12300, 2016. a, b
Darelius, E., Daae, K., Dundas, V., Fer, I., Hellmer, H. H., Janout, M.,
Nicholls, K. W., Sallée, J.-B., and Østerhus, S.: Observational
evidence for on-shelf heat transport driven by dense water export in the
Weddell Sea, Nat. Commun., 14, 1022, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36580-3, 2023. a, b
Davis, P. E. D., Jenkins, A., Nicholls, K. W., Dutrieux, P., Schröder,
M., Janout, M. A., Hellmer, H. H., Templeton, R., and McPhail, S.:
Observations of Modified Warm Deep Water Beneath Ronne Ice Shelf,
Antarctica, From an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, J. Geophys.
Res.-Oceans, 127, e2022JC019103, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022jc019103, 2022. a
Fahrbach, E., Hoppema, M., Rohardt, G., Boebel, O., Klatt, O., and Wisotzki,
A.: Warming of deep and abyssal water masses along the Greenwich meridian on
decadal time scales: The Weddell gyre as a heat buffer, Deep-Sea Res.
Pt. II, 58, 2509–2523,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2011.06.007, 2011. a, b
Fer, I.: Moored measurements of current, temperature and salinity in the
southern Weddell Sea, January 2009–January 2010, PANGAEA [data set],
https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.869799, 2016. a, b
Fer, I., Darelius, E., and Daae, K. B.: Observations of energetic turbulence
on the Weddell Sea continental slope, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43,
760–766, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL067349, 2016. a
Foldvik, A., Gammelsrød, T., Nygaard, E., and Østerhus, S.: Current measurements near Ronne ice shelf: Implications for circulation and melting, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 4463–4477, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JC000217, 2001. a
Foldvik, A., Gammelsrød, T., Østerhus, S., Fahrbach, E., Rohardt, G.,
Schröder, M., Nicholls, K. W., Padman, L., and Woodgate, R. A.: Ice
shelf water overflow and bottom water formation in the southern Weddell Sea,
J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 109, C02015, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JC002008, 2004. a, b, c, d, e, f
Fretwell, P., Pritchard, H. D., Vaughan, D. G., Bamber, J. L., Barrand, N. E., Bell, R., Bianchi, C., Bingham, R. G., Blankenship, D. D., Casassa, G., Catania, G., Callens, D., Conway, H., Cook, A. J., Corr, H. F. J., Damaske, D., Damm, V., Ferraccioli, F., Forsberg, R., Fujita, S., Gim, Y., Gogineni, P., Griggs, J. A., Hindmarsh, R. C. A., Holmlund, P., Holt, J. W., Jacobel, R. W., Jenkins, A., Jokat, W., Jordan, T., King, E. C., Kohler, J., Krabill, W., Riger-Kusk, M., Langley, K. A., Leitchenkov, G., Leuschen, C., Luyendyk, B. P., Matsuoka, K., Mouginot, J., Nitsche, F. O., Nogi, Y., Nost, O. A., Popov, S. V., Rignot, E., Rippin, D. M., Rivera, A., Roberts, J., Ross, N., Siegert, M. J., Smith, A. M., Steinhage, D., Studinger, M., Sun, B., Tinto, B. K., Welch, B. C., Wilson, D., Young, D. A., Xiangbin, C., and Zirizzotti, A.: Bedmap2: improved ice bed, surface and thickness datasets for Antarctica, The Cryosphere, 7, 375–393, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-375-2013, 2013. a
Gammelsrød, T., Foldvik, A., Nøst, O. A., Skagseth, Ø., Anderson, L.,
Fogelqvist, E., Olsson, K., Tanhua, T., Jones, E., and Østerhus, S.:
Distribution of Water Masses on the Continental Shelf in the Southern
Weddell Sea, in: The Polar Oceans and Their Role in Shaping the Global
Environment, Geophysical Monograph 84, edited by: Johannessen, O., Muench,
R. D., and Overland, J. E., American Geophysical Union, ISBN 0-87590-042-9,
1994. a
Graham, J. A., Heywood, K. J., Chavanne, C. P., and Holland, P. R.: Seasonal
variability of water masses and transport on the Antarctic continental shelf
and slope in the southeastern Weddell Sea, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 118, 2201–2214, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrc.20174, 2013. a, b
Hattermann, T.: Antarctic thermocline dynamics along a narrow shelf with
easterly winds, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 48, 2419–2443,
https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-18-0064.1, 2018. a
Hattermann, T., Nicholls, K. W., Hellmer, H. H., Davis, P. E. D., Janout,
M. A., Østerhus, S., Schlosser, E., Rohardt, G., and Kanzow, T.: Observed
interannual changes beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf linked to large-scale
atmospheric circulation, Nat. Commun., 12, 2961,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23131-x, 2021. a, b
Hellmer, H. H. and Holtappels, M.: The Expedition PS124 of the Research Vessel
Polarstern to the southern Weddell Sea in 2021, Tech. rep., Alfred Wegner
Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhafen,
https://doi.org/10.48433/BzPM_0755_2021, 2021. a
Hellmer, H. H., Kauker, F., Timmermann, R., Determann, J., and Rae, J.:
Twenty-first-century warming of a large Antarctic ice-shelf cavity by a
redirected coastal current, Nature, 485, 225–228,
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11064, 2012. a, b, c, d
Hellmer, H. H., Kauker, F., Timmermann, R., Hattermann, T., Shelf, F.-R. I.,
and Mengel, M.: The fate of the southern Weddell Sea continental shelf in a
warming climate, J. Climate, 30, 4337–4350, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0420.1,
2017. a, b, c
IOC, SCOR, and IAPSO: The international thermodynamic equation of
seawater – 2010: Calculations and use of thermodynamic properties, Tech.
rep., UNESCO, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Manuals and guides No. 56, 196 pp., 2010. a
Jacobs, S. S., Giulivi, C. F., and Dutrieux, P.: Persistent Ross Sea
Freshening From Imbalance West Antarctic Ice Shelf Melting, J.
Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 127, 1–19, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017808, 2022. a
Janout, M. A., Hellmer, H. H., Hattermann, T., Huhn, O., Sültenfuss, J.,
Østerhus, S., Stulic, L., Ryan, S., Schröder, M., and Kanzow, T.:
FRIS Revisited in 2018: On the Circulation and Water Masses at the Filchner
and Ronne Ice Shelves in the Southern Weddell Sea, J. Geophys.
Res.-Oceans, 126, 1–19, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JC017269, 2021. a, b, c, d, e
Janout, M. A., Hellmer, H. H., and Monsees, M.: Raw data of physical
oceanography and current velocity data from moorings AWI252-3, AWI253-3 and
AWI254-3 in Filchner Trough, February 2018–March 2021, PANGAEA [data set],
https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.944430, 2022. a, b
Lauber, J., Hattermann, T., de Steur, L., Darelius, E., Auger, M., Nøst,
O. A., and Moholdt, G.: Increased Offshore Westerlies and Reduced Sea Ice
Drive Warm Inflow below Fimbulisen, Nat. Geosci. [preprint],
https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2069283/v1, 2023. a, b
Le Paih, N., Hattermann, T., Boebel, O., Kanzow, T., Lüpkes, C., Rohardt,
G., Strass, V., and Herbette, S.: Coherent Seasonal Acceleration of the
Weddell Sea Boundary Current System Driven by Upstream Winds, J.
Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 125, 1–20, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016316, 2020. a
McDougall, T. J. and Barker, P. J.: Getting started with TEOS-10 and the Gibbs
Seawater (GSW) Oceanographic Toolbox, May, SCOR/IAPSO WG127, 28 pp., 2011. a
Middleton, J. H., Foster, T. D., and Foldvik, A.: Low-frequency currents and
continental-shelf waves in the southern Weddell Sea, J. Phys.
Oceanogr., 12, 618–634, 1982. a
NASA: Antarctic Sea Ice Reaches Another Record Low,
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151093/antarctic-sea-ice-reaches-another-record-low (last access: 5 December 2022),
2023. a
Nicholls, K. W., Boehme, L., Biuw, M., and Fedak, M. A.: Wintertime ocean
conditions over the southern Weddell Sea continental shelf, Antarctica,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L21605, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL035742, 2008. a, b
Nicholls, K. W., Østerhus, S., Makinson, K., Gammelsrød, T., and
Fahrbach, E.: Ice-Ocean Processes over the Continental Shelf of the Southern
Weddell Sea, Antarctica: A Review, Rev. Geophys., 47, 1–23,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2007RG000250, 2009. a, b, c
Oceanops: Integrated dashboard, https://www.ocean-ops.org, last access: 5 December 2022. a
Paolo, F. S., Fricker, H. A., and Padman, L.: Volume loss from Antarctic ice
shelves is accelerating, Science, 348, 327–332, 2015. a
Purkey, S. G. and Johnson, G. C.: Warming of Global Abyssal and Deep Southern
Ocean Waters between the 1990s and 2000s: Contributions to Global Heat and
Sea Level Rise Budgets*, J. Climate, 23, 6336–6351,
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JCLI3682.1, 2010. a, b
Rignot, E., Jacobs, S. S., Mouginot, J., and Scheuchl, B.: Ice-shelf melting
around Antarctica, Science, 341, 266–270,
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1235798, 2013. a
Schmidtko, S., Heywood, K. J., Thompson, A. F., and Aoki, S.: Multidecadal
warming of Antarctic waters, Science, 346, 1227–1231, 2014. a
Schröder, M., Ryan, S., and Wisotzki, A.: Physical oceanography and
current meter data from mooring AWI253-1, PANGAEA [data set], https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.875932,
2017. a, b
Schröder, M., Ryan, S., and Wisotzki, A.: Physical oceanography and
current meter data from mooring AWI253-2, PANGAEA [data set], https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.903315,
2019. a, b
Spence, P., Holmes, R. M., Hogg, A. M. C., Griffies, S. M., Stewart, K. D., and
England, M. H.: Localized rapid warming ofWest Antarctic subsurface waters
by remote winds, Nat. Clim. Change, 7, 595–603,
https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE3335, 2017. a
Strass, V. H., Rohardt, G., Kanzow, T., Hoppema, M., and Boebel, O.:
Multidecadal warming and density loss in the Deep Weddell Sea, Antarctica,
J. Climate, 33, 9863–9881, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-20-0271.1, 2020. a
Tippenhauer, S., Janout, M. A., Schall, E., Timmermann, R., van Caspel, M.,
Vignes, L., Hinse, Y., and Hellmer, H. H.: Physical oceanography based on
ship CTD during POLARSTERN cruise PS124, PANGAEA [data set], https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.957614, 2023. a
Treasure, A. M., Roquet, F., Ansorge, I. J., Bester, M. N., Boehme, L.,
Bornemann, H., Charrassin, J. B., Chevallier, D., Costa, D. P., Fedak, M. A.,
Guinet, C., Hammill, M. O., Harcourt, R. G., Hindell, M. A., Kovacs, K. M.,
Lea, M. A., Lovell, P., Lowther, A. D., Lydersen, C., McIntyre, T., McMahon,
C. R., Muelbert, M. M., Nicholls, K., Picard, B., Reverdin, G., Trites,
A. W., Williams, G. D., and Nico De Bruyn, P. J.: Marine mammals exploring
the oceans pole to pole: A review of the meop consortium, Oceanography, 30,
132–138, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2017.234, 2017. a
Turner, J. S., Guarino, M. V., Arnatt, J., Jena, B., Marshall, G. J., Phillips,
T., Bajish, C. C., Clem, K., Wang, Z., Andersson, T., Murphy, E. J., and
Cavanagh, R.: Recent Decrease of Summer Sea Ice in the Weddell Sea,
Antarctica, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2020GL087127, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087127,
2020. a
Short summary
Antarctica's ice shelves are melting from below as ocean currents bring warm water into the ice shelf cavities. The melt rates of the large Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf in the southern Weddell Sea are currently low, as the water in the cavity is cold. Here, we present data from a scientific cruise to the region in 2021 and show that the warmest water at the upper part of the continental slope is now about 0.1°C warmer than in previous observations, while the surface water is fresher than before.
Antarctica's ice shelves are melting from below as ocean currents bring warm water into the ice...
