Shelf-Edge Circulation on the West Antarctic Peninsula: An Analysis Utilizing Existing Data and Regional Model Output

该项目的主要目标是确定沿南极半岛西侧的开阔海洋和大陆架之间的水团交换。拟议的分析将利用在全球海洋生态系统动力学研究的南大洋实验背景下，在南极海洋研究船上收集的现有声学多普勒电流剖面（ADCP）数据。这些数据将与其他分析的速度场进行一致性检查，并将通过对大陆架边缘速度和密度场区域模型（罗格斯大学/加州大学洛杉矶分校区域海洋模拟系统（ROMS））输出的分析加以补充。ADCP速度场的高水平分辨率，结合区域海洋模拟的最新进展，提供了新的机会：(1)确定以前未解决的水平尺度的平均外陆架和陆架边缘环流；(2)研究环流随风、浮力和边界流强迫以及沿陆架水深变化的变化；(3)研究跨坡运输机制和途径；(4)分析陆架边缘主导过程的动力学。最近的研究表明，开阔的海洋可能是南极大陆架营养物质、热量和盐的重要来源。因此，在大陆架边缘的过程可以显著影响水质量改变、海冰循环以及大陆架上营养物质和其他生物物质的跨大陆架交换。

The primary goal of this project is to determine the exchange of water masses between the open ocean and the continental shelf along the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula. The proposed analyses will make use of existing acoustic doppler current profile (ADCP) data collected on board antarctic oceanographic research vessels in the context of the Southern Ocean experiment of the Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics Study. The data will be examined for consistency with other analyzed velocity fields, and will be complemented by an analysis of the output from a regional model of shelf-edge velocities and density fields (the Rutgers/UCLA Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS)). The high horizontal resolution of ADCP velocity fields, combined with recent advances in regional oceanic modeling provides new opportunities to: (1) determine the mean outer shelf and shelf-edge circulation at horizontal scales that were previously unresolved; (2) investigate variability of circulation with wind, buoyancy, and boundary current forcing, and with alongshelf bathymetric variability; (3) examine across-slope transport mechanisms and pathways; and (4) analyze the dynamics of dominant processes at the shelf-edge.Recent research has indicated that the open ocean may act as a significant source of nutrients, heat, and salt for antarctic continental shelves. Therefore, processes at the shelf-edge can significantly affect water mass modification, sea ice cycling, and cross-shelf exchanges ofnutrients and other biogenic material on the shelf.