EGU24-19973, updated on 11 Mar 2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19973
EGU General Assembly 2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Exploring links between Mixed-Layer depth and Sea Ice concentration variability in the Greenland Sea.

Sonia Domingo1, Joan Mateu Horrach2, Alfredo Izquierdo3, and Ángel Rodriguez4
Sonia Domingo et al.
  • 1ULPGC, Spain (sonia.dompas@gmail.com)
  • 2University of Bergen, Norway (joan.pu@uib.no)
  • 3Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Marine Research Institute (INMAR), International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEI-MAR), University of Cadiz, Spain, (alfredo.izquierdo@uca.es)
  • 4Physic and Geophysics application (OFYGA), ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Canary Island, Spain, (angel.santana@ulpgc.es)

The Greenland Sea is a key player in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), crucial for forming dense waters through open-water convection and influencing global climate dynamics. Recent changes, such as decreasing sea ice concentration (SIC) and the shoaling of the mixed layer depth (MLD), have spurred detailed research into their impact on the AMOC. Our study, using the latest TOPAZ reanalysis, explores these changes from 1991 to 2021.

To strengthen our findings, we meticulously compare a 10-year observational dataset, validating TOPAZ's ability to reproduce processes like dense water formation and MLD evolution in the Greenland Sea. We find notable agreement, with the MLD reaching intermediate depths, and TOPAZ's overflow water density aligning with observations. Results show a decrease in SIC and a shallowing of the MLD, linked to rising surface water temperatures.

While our results indicate a similar trend, we're not ready to draw final conclusions. Further analysis is needed to understand how observational data compares to TOPAZ findings. Although reanalysis data provides valuable insights, it's crucial to validate everything with observational data. The comprehensive dataset and almost daily temporal resolution of our observational platforms significantly bolster the reliability of our conclusions.

Understanding Greenland Sea variability is vital not only for decoding its role in the AMOC but also for grasping broader implications for the global climate system. By highlighting the intricate relationship between SIC, MLD, temperature, and salinity, our research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on climate change dynamics.

 

How to cite: Domingo, S., Horrach, J. M., Izquierdo, A., and Rodriguez, Á.: Exploring links between Mixed-Layer depth and Sea Ice concentration variability in the Greenland Sea., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-19973, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19973, 2024.

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