Currents and Hydrographic Variability in Orphan Basin, 2004-2010

Orphan Basin is a deep (>3000m) and broad (>200km) indentation of the continental margin north of Flemish Cap which partially lies in the exit pathways of the Labrador Current (LC) and Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) from the Labrador Sea. Since 2004, the Bedford Institute of Oceanography has been carrying out a moored measurement and annual survey program to describe and understand currents and hydrographic variability in the area, with focus on ocean climate variability and energetic features relevant to oil and gas exploration. The observations have identified seasonal and interannual variability in water mass properties that can be linked to upstream variability on the AR7W line in the Labrador Sea, thereby helping to understand the fate of Labrador Sea Water and other DWBC waters. The moored measurements have confirmed the expectation that low-frequency currents and drift are equatorward and generally weak across the basin, but with some near-bottom intensification of the flow associated with the DWBC and a stronger barotropic intensification associated with the LC over the slope. The measurements have also identified two energetic and unexpected types of current features at higher frequencies - tall and isolated mesoscale eddies, and strong upper-ocean inertial oscillations. The eddies extend over the entire water column and drift with the flow in water depths of 2200-2800m, with radii of order 20 km, peak (cyclonic) currents of about 0.5 m/s at mid depths, and a local occurrence rate of about one eddy every few months. The intermittent inertial oscillations penetrate to 300-m depth, with near-surface speeds up to 1 m/s, persistence over periods up to 10-30 days, and horizontal coherence over distances exceeding 80 km. This presentation will provide an overview of the observed variability in Orphan Basin during 2004-2010 with focus on the features noted above.