The Variability of Sea Level in the Nordic Seas

The Nordic seas play an important role in the Earth's climate system. This is the region where deep water is formed and where the warm Atlantic water loses heat to the atmosphere, subducts to intermediate depths, and carries the residual heat into the Arctic Ocean. Sea level is an integral parameter that reflects these processes. We have studied the variability of sea level in the Nordic seas using over 18 years of satellite altimetry and 8 years of GRACE measurements. The linear sea level rise over the region is complicated by the interannual variability with a profound maximum occurring in 2003. The Lofoten basin is distinguished by large eddy variability and cyclonic eddy propagation with speeds of 2-3 km/day. By assessing the relative contribution of steric and mass effects to the observed sea level variability, we discuss the role of baroclinic and barotropic processes on annual to inter-annual time scales.