Transpolar DriftTranspolar Drift

By: Danielle HoldenBy: Danielle Holden

Background Background Moves from

Siberian Coast of Russia through Fram Strait and joins the Eastern Greenland Current

Moves at 1-3 cm/s Depth: 2000 m

Moves from Siberian Coast of Russia through Fram Strait and joins the Eastern Greenland Current

Moves at 1-3 cm/s Depth: 2000 m

Arctic Ocean circulation. Image courtesy of Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), Figure 3.29, AMAP (1998).

Ice/Fresh Water Circulation

Ice/Fresh Water Circulation

Beaufort Gyre and Transpolar Drift “exchange” ice between each other

The amount of fresh water transported depends on how much ice was melted in the Arctic 50-70% albedo in Arctic Sensible heat loss into air

and ocean Transpolar Drift collides

ice into Greenland coast: ridge formation and thick ice

Beaufort Gyre and Transpolar Drift “exchange” ice between each other

The amount of fresh water transported depends on how much ice was melted in the Arctic 50-70% albedo in Arctic Sensible heat loss into air

and ocean Transpolar Drift collides

ice into Greenland coast: ridge formation and thick ice

The amount of ice exportSource: Torben Königk et al: Fram Strait Ice Export: Variability and its Impact on Climate

Circulation and NAOCirculation and NAO

Positive and Negative Phases affect the Transpolar Drift differently: Positive phase: creates

westerlies in Arctic, colder air more sea ice, less ice and water transport

Negative phase: weak winds in Arctic, warmer air, less sea ice, more ice and water transport

Positive and Negative Phases affect the Transpolar Drift differently: Positive phase: creates

westerlies in Arctic, colder air more sea ice, less ice and water transport

Negative phase: weak winds in Arctic, warmer air, less sea ice, more ice and water transport

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Circulation and VorticityCirculation and Vorticity Decadal Oscillations

between (+) and (-) vorticities

Positive and Negative vorticities affect where the current travels. There are 2 paths. Positive Vorticity Phase:

Weak High Pressure in Arctic allows fresh water/sea ice to drift counterclockwise. (RED)

Negative Vorticity Phase: Strong High Pressure forces fresh water clockwise (BLUE)

Decadal Oscillations between (+) and (-) vorticities

Positive and Negative vorticities affect where the current travels. There are 2 paths. Positive Vorticity Phase:

Weak High Pressure in Arctic allows fresh water/sea ice to drift counterclockwise. (RED)

Negative Vorticity Phase: Strong High Pressure forces fresh water clockwise (BLUE)

Transpolar Drift Paths:Source: Mysak: Patterns of Arctic Circulation

ReferencesReferences http://www.giub.unibe.ch/klimet/wanner/nao.html http://nsidc.org/seaice/processes/circulation.html Knauss, John A. Introduction to Physical

Oceanography. Long Grove: Waveland Pr Inc, 2005.

Koenigk, T., J. Jungclaus, and U. Mikolajewicz. "Fram Strait Ice Export: Variability and its Impact on Climate." American Geohysical Union (2004).

Mysak, Lawrence A. "Patterns of Arctic Circulation." Science 293 (2001): 1269-270.

http://www.giub.unibe.ch/klimet/wanner/nao.html http://nsidc.org/seaice/processes/circulation.html Knauss, John A. Introduction to Physical

Oceanography. Long Grove: Waveland Pr Inc, 2005.

Koenigk, T., J. Jungclaus, and U. Mikolajewicz. "Fram Strait Ice Export: Variability and its Impact on Climate." American Geohysical Union (2004).

Mysak, Lawrence A. "Patterns of Arctic Circulation." Science 293 (2001): 1269-270.