Collaborative Research: Model Process Studies of Freshwater Accumulation and Release in the Beaufort Gyre of the Arctic Ocean

波弗特环流是北冰洋的一种环流模式。观测记录表明，2003年至2014年，相对于20世纪70年代的气候学，波弗特环流地区积累了超过5000立方千米的液态淡水。最近的结果表明，波弗特环流系统可能正在进入淡水释放期。向北大西洋地区的亚北极海域释放如此多的淡水有可能改变该地区的进程，这对气候系统很重要。该项目将调查波弗特环流如何积累和释放淡水，以及这如何影响北冰洋和北大西洋亚北极海域的过程。该项目将通过为研究生的培训提供支持，促进STEM劳动力的发展。该项目还将为一位年轻的女科学家在其职业生涯的形成阶段提供支持。该项目将继续并加强PI与上海海洋大学（SHOU）建立的富有成效的合作，并利用上海的计算资源。此外，它还受益于SHOU与挪威研究公司Akvapan-niva AS之间的合作，允许访问该小组收集的实地观测结果。通过利用pi各自机构的现有基础设施和活动，将实现与K-Gray社区的外展。最近的研究没有就波弗特环流地区淡水积聚的主要原因达成一致，也没有就淡水从该地区释放到北大西洋的后果达成一致。本项目将通过应用高分辨率、非结构化网格北冰洋-有限体积沿海海洋模型（AO-FVCOM）来填补这一空白，并辅以对该地区历史观测数据集的分析，研究：1)波弗特环流地区淡水积累和释放的过程和机制；2)主要来源对北冰洋淡水含量变化的影响；(3)从波弗特环流到北大西洋亚极地的淡水和海冰通道；4)这种释放对水文、深对流和环流的影响。

The Beaufort Gyre is circulation pattern in the Arctic Ocean. Observations have documented that in 2003 to 2014, the Beaufort Gyre region accumulated more than 5000 km3 of liquid freshwater relative to the climatology of the 1970s. Recent results suggest that the Beaufort Gyre system may be entering a period of freshwater release. The release of so much freshwater to the sub-Arctic seas of the North Atlantic region has the potential to modify processes in this region, which is important for the climate system. This project will investigate how the Beaufort Gyre accumulates and releases freshwater and how this influences processes in the Arctic Ocean and in the sub-arctic seas of the North Atlantic. This project would contribute to STEM workforce development by providing support for the training of a graduate student. The project also would provide support to a young, female scientist during the formative years of her career. The project will continue and enhance a productive collaboration that the PI has established with Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU) and leverage computational resources in Shanghai. Additionally, it benefits from a collaboration between SHOU and the Norwegian research company Akvapan-niva AS, Norway, allowing access to field observations collected by this group. Outreach to the K-Gray community will be achieved through leveraging existing infrastructure and activities at the PIs' respective institutions.Recent studies do not agree on the major causes of freshwater accumulation in the Beaufort Gyre region, or the consequences of freshwater release from this region to the North Atlantic. This project will fill that gap by applying the high-resolution, unstructured grid Arctic Ocean - Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (AO-FVCOM), complemented by analysis of historical observational data sets from the region, to investigate:1) processes and mechanisms of freshwater accumulation and release in the Beaufort Gyre region; 2) roles of major sources contributing to the freshwater content changes in the Arctic Ocean; 3) pathways of fresh water and sea ice from the Beaufort Gyre to the subpolar North Atlantic; and 4) consequences of this release on hydrography, deep convection and circulation.