Publication Abstract

Deep-water renewal in the northern North Atlantic

R.R. Dickson and E. Gmitrowicz

The renewal of the deep water of the world's oceans is accomplished through the input of dense water in both the northern North Atlantic and around Antarctica but direct measurement of the renewal rate has proved elusive. The authors describe the first successful long-term measurement of the transport of the northern inflow component where it passes south along the Continental Slope off East Greenland. A cold, bottom intensified, long-slope flow is observed with maximum speeds of around 100 cm/s, mean speeds of up to 25-30 cm/s, a dominant fluctuation timescale of a few days period but with little seasonal or interannual variation in speed or direction. The transport at densities ( sigma theta ) greater than or equal to 27.80 is estimated to be stable at 10.7 x 10⁶ m³/s and propose a circulation scheme for waters of this density throughout the northern gyre.

Reference:

R.R. Dickson and E. Gmitrowicz, 1990. Deep-water renewal in the northern North Atlantic. Nature, 344: 848-850.