Arctic Oceanography - Oceanography: Atmosphere-Ocean Exchange, Biogeochemistry & Physics

Findlay, HS, Cottier, F, Morata, N, Hindshaw, R, Nikolopoulos, A, Ardyna, M, Marz, C, Queguiner, B, Roca-Marti, M and Bourgois, S 2015 Arctic Oceanography - Oceanography: Atmosphere-Ocean Exchange, Biogeochemistry & Physics. Arctic in Rapid Transition, 2pp. (UNSPECIFIED)

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Abstract/Summary

The Arctic Ocean is, on average, the shallowest of Earth’s oceans. Its vast continental shelf areas, which account for approximately half of the Arctic Ocean’s total area, are heavily influenced by the surrounding land masses through river run-off and coastal erosion. As a main area of deep water formation, the Arctic is one of the main «engines» of global ocean circulation, due to large freshwater inputs, it is also strongly stratified. The Arctic Ocean’s complex oceanographic configuration is tightly linked to the atmosphere, the land, and the cryosphere. The physical dynamics not only drive important climate and global circulation patterns, but also control biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics. Current changes in Arctic sea-ice thickness and distribution, air and water temperatures, and water column stability are resulting in measurable shifts in the properties and functioning of the ocean and its ecosystems. The Arctic Ocean is forecast to shift to a seasonally ice-free ocean resulting in changes to physical, chemical, and biological processes. These include the exchange of gases across the atmosphere-ocean interface, the wind-driven ciruclation and mixing regimes, light and nutrient availability for primary production, food web dynamics, and export of material to the deep ocean. In anticipation of these changes, extending our knowledge of the present Arctic oceanography and these complex changes has never been more urgent.

Item Type: Publication - Report (UNSPECIFIED)
Subjects: Atmospheric Sciences
Earth Sciences
Ecology and Environment
Marine Sciences
Oceanography
Divisions: Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Marine Biochemistry and Observations
Depositing User: Helen Findlay
Date made live: 30 Jun 2015 13:31
Last Modified: 25 Apr 2020 09:56
URI: https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/6423

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