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- Title
Not Just Sea Ice: Other Factors Important to Near‐inertial Wave Generation in the Arctic Ocean.
- Authors
Guthrie, J. D.; Morison, J. H.
- Abstract
Internal wave energy in the Arctic Ocean is often an order of magnitude lower than the midlatitudes. By inhibiting energy input and causing damping, the presence of sea ice is believed to be responsible for low internal wave energy. While a few current studies have shown slightly elevated internal wave energy compared to historical measurements, it has not matched the catastrophic decline in sea ice extent over the same period. We report internal wave energy and mixing estimates that show little difference in the presence of sea ice. To examine possible causes other than sea ice, we adopt the model framework developed in Gill (1984) to explore the importance of previously unexamined factors responsible for the low internal wave energy in the Arctic Ocean. Model results show that low β and shallow mixed layers can result in significant reductions in horizontal kinetic energy in the pycnocline compared to midlatitudes. Plain Language Summary: Kinetic energy below the surface of the ocean is primarily input through the winds and the tides. The wind blows on the ocean, creating currents in a mixed layer at the surface. These currents often make a type of wave called an internal wave that moves downward and distributes that energy to greater depths. The Arctic Ocean is known to be especially quiet and still compared to the midlatitude open ocean. This is often attributed to the presence of a perennial sea ice cover. We use observations from the Canada Basin in summer and fall to show that this energy at depth is not dependent on the presence of ice and run a simple model to show that other factors are important in distributing the kinetic energy from the wind at depth. Key Points: In the Canada Basin, internal wave energy and mixing from shear measurements are similar despite the presence or absence of sea iceModel results show that low values of Beta and shallow mixed layers result in a significant decrease in near‐inertial internal wave energy
- Subjects
CANADA Basin; INTERNAL waves; SEA ice; WAVE energy; OCEAN; MIXING height (Atmospheric chemistry); STORM surges
- Publication
Geophysical Research Letters, 2021, Vol 48, Issue 3, p1
- ISSN
0094-8276
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2020GL090508