http://www.smi.ac.uk/images/north-atlantic-surface-currents-sams/view Bee Berx 1 , Bogi Hansen 2 , Svein Østerhus 3 , Karin Margaretha Larsen 2 , Toby Sherwin 4 and Kerstin Jochumsen 5 1 Marine Scotland Science ([email protected]); 2 Faroe Marine Research Institute; 3 University of Bergen; 4 Scottish Association for Marine Science; 5 Universität Hamburg Is the Transport of Atlantic Water in the Faroe Shetland Channel changing? – A summary of 20 years of observations Ocean Sci., 9, 639- 654, 2013
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Bee Berx1, Bogi Hansen2, Svein Østerhus3, Karin Margaretha Larsen2, Toby Sherwin4 and Kerstin Jochumsen5
1 Marine Scotland Science ([email protected]); 2 Faroe Marine Research Institute; 3 University of Bergen; 4 Scottish Association for Marine Science; 5 Universität Hamburg
Is the Transport of Atlantic Water in the Faroe Shetland Channel changing? – A summary of 20 years of observations
Why are we interested in the Faroe Shetland Channel (FSC)?
NAW
MNAW
Atlantic Water
MEIW
NSAIW
Intermediate Water
NSDW
DeepWater
Circulation in the Faroe Shetland Channel
NAW
MNAW
Atlantic Water
Circulation in the Faroe Shetland Channel
Atlantic Water is defined as warmer than 5°C.
Observing Circulation in the FSC
Temperature and Salinity in the FSCon the FIM section
How to estimate Atlantic Water transport in the Faroe Shetland Channel?
The assumption of geostrophy [where large ocean currents are an equilibrium of the pressure gradient and Coriolis] allows us to convert sea level height measurements into
• Combined temperature and salinity measurements with current meter and sea elevation observations to estimate transport of Atlantic water through the FSC.
• On average 2.7±0.5 Sv is transported into the Nordic Seas.• Although variable, the net volume transport shows consistent
seasonality with maximum Dec-Jan, and an amplitude of 0.7 Sv. • No significant long-term trend in volume transport between 1992
and 2011.• We have observed increases in temperature and salinity, and
may therefore expect trends in relative heat and salt transports (but difficult to verify statistically based on this time series).
• Currently studying whether less variable observations can be made in an area to the south-west of the FIM section
Ocean Sci., 9, 639-654, 2013
Thank you! For questions/collaborations, please email [email protected]
The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union 7th Framework Programme (FP7 2007-2013), under grant agreement n.308299