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Article Type:
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A Numerical Investigation of Formation and Variability of Antarctic Bottom Water off Cape Darnley, East Antarctica

Yoshihiro Nakayama Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

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Kay I. Ohshima Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

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Yoshimasa Matsumura Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

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Yasushi Fukamachi Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

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Hiroyasu Hasumi Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-14-0069.1
Page(s):
2921–2937
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Abstract

At several locations around Antarctica, dense water is formed as a result of intense sea ice formation. When this dense water becomes sufficiently denser than the surrounding water, it descends the continental slope and forms Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). This study presents the AABW formation off the coast of Cape Darnley [Cape Darnley Bottom Water (CDBW)] in East Antarctica, using a nonhydrostatic model. The model is forced for 8 months by a temporally uniform surface salt flux (because of sea ice formation) estimated from Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (EOS; AMSR-E) data and a heat budget calculation. The authors reproduce AABW formation and associated periodic downslope flows of dense water. Descending pathways of dense water are largely determined by the topography; most dense water flows into depressions on the continental shelf, advects onto the continental slope, and is steered downslope to greater depths by the canyons. Intense sea ice formation is the most important factor in the formation of AABW off Cape Darnley, and the existence of depressions is of only minor importance for the flux of CDBW. The mechanism responsible for the periodic downslope flow of dense water is further analyzed using an idealized model setup. The period of dense water outflow is regulated primarily by the topographic beta effect.

Current affiliation: Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany.

Corresponding author address: Yoshihiro Nakayama, Alfred Wegener Institute, Bussestrasse 24 D-27570 Bremerhaven, Germany. E-mail: yoshihiro.nakayama@awi.de

Abstract

At several locations around Antarctica, dense water is formed as a result of intense sea ice formation. When this dense water becomes sufficiently denser than the surrounding water, it descends the continental slope and forms Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). This study presents the AABW formation off the coast of Cape Darnley [Cape Darnley Bottom Water (CDBW)] in East Antarctica, using a nonhydrostatic model. The model is forced for 8 months by a temporally uniform surface salt flux (because of sea ice formation) estimated from Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (EOS; AMSR-E) data and a heat budget calculation. The authors reproduce AABW formation and associated periodic downslope flows of dense water. Descending pathways of dense water are largely determined by the topography; most dense water flows into depressions on the continental shelf, advects onto the continental slope, and is steered downslope to greater depths by the canyons. Intense sea ice formation is the most important factor in the formation of AABW off Cape Darnley, and the existence of depressions is of only minor importance for the flux of CDBW. The mechanism responsible for the periodic downslope flow of dense water is further analyzed using an idealized model setup. The period of dense water outflow is regulated primarily by the topographic beta effect.

Current affiliation: Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany.

Corresponding author address: Yoshihiro Nakayama, Alfred Wegener Institute, Bussestrasse 24 D-27570 Bremerhaven, Germany. E-mail: yoshihiro.nakayama@awi.de
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