Heat transfer from Atlantic waters to sea ice in the Arctic Ocean: Evidence from dissolved argon
Abstract
In an attempt to determine whether the temperature and salinity properties of Arctic Ocean waters above the Atlantic water temperature maximum are the result of heat transfer to sea-ice, dissolved Ar has been measured as a temperature tracer. Consistent with such a hypothesis, it is found that there is a transition from supersaturation of Ar in the upper waters to undersaturation below a depth of 275m. Using the known dependence of the solubility of Ar on T and S, and assuming that the water was originally equilibrated with the atmosphere at 760mm Hg, it has been calculated that ca. 0.6° C of cooling can be attributed to transfer of heat to sea-ice.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1029/GL017i012p02149
- Bibcode:
- 1990GeoRL..17.2149M
- Keywords:
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- Oceanography: Physical: Ice mechanics and air-sea-ice exchange processes;
- Information Related to Geographic Region: Atlantic Ocean;
- Oceanography: General: Arctic and Antarctic oceanography;
- Oceanography: General: Physical and chemical properties of sea water;
- Oceanography: General: Water masses