Elucidation of the Beaufort Gyre and Oceanic warming in the Arctic Ocean during winter

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870203
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental impact assessment; Environmental dynamic analysis
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Mizobata Kohei 東京海洋大学, 学術研究院, 助教 (80586058)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 北極海 / ボーフォート循環 / 海洋温暖化 / 海面高度計 / 衛星リモートセンシング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Wintertime monthly dynamic ocean topography (DOT) and geostrophic velocity were derived from CryoSat-2/SIRAL (Radar Altimeter). Investigation of DOT comparing with sea surface wind and sea ice motion shows that the Beaufort Gyre responds to the variability of sea surface stress due to sea surface wind and sea ice motion, as Barotropic response. Also our analysis revealed that strong wind field resulted from intensified Beaufort High sometimes induces the westward expand of the Beaufort Gyre. The spatio-temporal variability of the Beuafort Gyre during winter alters the pathway of the warm Pacific Summer Water, which contributes to sea ice reduction. Our results will be helpful for understanding the fate of Arctic Sea ice.

Free Research Field

海洋物理学・衛星リモートセンシング