A halocline in the Arctic Ocean significantly slows the upward heat flux from deep warm water,thereby inhibiting the melting of surface sea ice.The western Arctic Ocean exhibits a double-halocline(DH)structure due to ...A halocline in the Arctic Ocean significantly slows the upward heat flux from deep warm water,thereby inhibiting the melting of surface sea ice.The western Arctic Ocean exhibits a double-halocline(DH)structure due to the complexity of the water mass.Using in situ measurements,we analyzed the vertical structural characteristics of DH and its interannual variation.The results indicated that the DH primarily occurs at the Northwind Ridge and the southern Canada Basin,extending westward to the Chukchi Abyssal Plain and northward to the northern boundary of the Canada Basin.From 2002 to 2022,there were changes in water masses that determined the structure of the DH.The significant increase in Pacific Water has resulted in 42%and 65%increases in freshwater and the heat content of the DH,respectively,along with a 14%reduction in stratification.Pacific Winter Water characterized by salinity of 33 has exhibited a gradually decreasing trend,suggesting that the lower halocline may be difficult to ventilate.The combined effects of Ekman pumping,mesoscale eddies,and positive buoyancy forcing(heat and freshwater input)from Pacific Water have altered the thickness and stratification of the DH.This study has enhanced our understanding of the evolution of vertical heat flux in the upper western Arctic Ocean.展开更多
基金The National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No.2023YFC2809101the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.42276239.
文摘A halocline in the Arctic Ocean significantly slows the upward heat flux from deep warm water,thereby inhibiting the melting of surface sea ice.The western Arctic Ocean exhibits a double-halocline(DH)structure due to the complexity of the water mass.Using in situ measurements,we analyzed the vertical structural characteristics of DH and its interannual variation.The results indicated that the DH primarily occurs at the Northwind Ridge and the southern Canada Basin,extending westward to the Chukchi Abyssal Plain and northward to the northern boundary of the Canada Basin.From 2002 to 2022,there were changes in water masses that determined the structure of the DH.The significant increase in Pacific Water has resulted in 42%and 65%increases in freshwater and the heat content of the DH,respectively,along with a 14%reduction in stratification.Pacific Winter Water characterized by salinity of 33 has exhibited a gradually decreasing trend,suggesting that the lower halocline may be difficult to ventilate.The combined effects of Ekman pumping,mesoscale eddies,and positive buoyancy forcing(heat and freshwater input)from Pacific Water have altered the thickness and stratification of the DH.This study has enhanced our understanding of the evolution of vertical heat flux in the upper western Arctic Ocean.
