Chinese Journal of Polar Research

ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2011, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (4-English): 235-245.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1085.2011.00235

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Variation of upper-ocean heat content in the Canada Basin in summers of 2003 and 2008

ZHONG Wenli1,2& ZHAO Jinping1,2   

  1. 1College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography, Ocean University of China;
    2Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education
  • Received:2011-08-19 Revised:2011-10-31 Online:1961-12-30 Published:1961-12-30
  • Contact: ZHONG Wenli
  • Supported by:

    Global Change Research Program of China、National Natural Science Foundation of China via project “Arctic circumpolar current structure and its contribution to the climate change”

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Abstract:

Conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) data collected during summers of 2003 and 2008 were used to study upper-ocean heat content(which refers to the heat content of the top 200 m in this study) of the Canada Basin. The variation of heat content at depth, the heat content differences between these two summers, the main driving factors, and horizontal spatial scale differences were analyzed. The catastrophic reduction of sea ice cover in the Canada Basin was significant when comparing 2003 with 2008, suggesting that more solar radiation was absorbed in the upper ocean during summer of 2008. On the other hand, the reduction of sea ice resulted in more freshwater for the upper ocean. Thus, the properties of sea water were changed. Our study shows that the huge reduction of sea ice would result in two changes: a general increase of the upper-ocean heat content, and an increase of the Pacific inflow water in the Canada Basin. The Near Surface Temperature Maximum (NSTM) water was also analyzed as it is an indicator of the Arctic Ocean warming.

Key words: Heat content, freshwater content, NSTM, melting sea ice, Pacific inflow water