American Geophysical Union Become an AGU Member
Subscribe to AGU Journals		 AGU Home AGU Publications

Read Full Article    Cited by

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 28, NO. 10, PAGES 2017–2020, 2001

The Laptev Sea as a Source for Recent Arctic Ocean Salinity Changes

Mark A. Johnson

Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska


Igor V. Polyakov

International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska


Abstract

This study was motivated by observations of significant salinification of the upper Eurasian Basin that began around 1989. Observational data and modeling results provide evidence that increased arctic atmospheric cyclonicity in the 1990s resulted in a dramatic increase of the salinity in the Eurasian Basin. Two mechanisms account for the Laptev Sea salinization: eastward diversion of Russian rivers and increased brine formation due to enhanced ice production in numerous leads in the Laptev Sea ice cover. Both these mechanisms are linked to changes in wind patterns and were essential to the formation of salinity anomalies. The resulting Laptev Sea salinity anomaly was advected to the central Eurasian Basin. The strong salinization over the Eurasian Basin altered the formation of cold halocline waters, weakened vertical stratification, and released heat upward from below the cold halocline layer. Our analysis suggests that local processes in the Laptev Sea may have a basin-wide impact on the thermohaline structure of the Arctic Ocean.

Received 11 December 2000; accepted 6 February 2001.

Read Full Article    Cited by

Citation: Johnson, M. A., and I. V. Polyakov (2001), The Laptev Sea as a Source for Recent Arctic Ocean Salinity Changes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28(10), 2017–2020.