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SUMMARY:Variability and trends of drifter pathways near the Antarctic Peni
 nsula and potential ecological impacts - Angelika Renner\, British Antarct
 ic Survey
DTSTART:20100616T100000Z
DTEND:20100616T110000Z
UID:TALK25277@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Zhaomin Wang
DESCRIPTION:Near-surface currents near Antarctic Peninsula (AP) are strong
 ly affected by complex frontal features and atmospheric forcings. They tra
 nsport material from the tip of the peninsula along the western shelf and 
 into the Scotia Sea and are therefore important for the ecosystem of the r
 egion. The trajectories of modelled drifters\, deployed in the northwester
 n Weddell Sea over 43 model years\, show distinct pathways tied to topogra
 phy and fronts of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. From the shelf of the
  eastern AP\, drifters tend to enter Bransfield Strait and are advected to
 wards the Bellingshausen Sea. From the deeper Weddell Sea\, drifters are m
 ore likely to cross the South Scotia Ridge into the Scotia Sea and reach S
 outh Georgia. Over the 43-year timeseries of modelled drifters\, there is 
 a significant decrease of drifters going west into the Bellingshausen Sea 
 and travel times to South Georgia become shorter. The changes are partly d
 ue to changes in the atmospheric circulation. High (low) transports and sh
 ort (long) travel times to South Georgia\, and low (high) transports to th
 e west can be linked to strong (weak) westerlies\, signature of the positi
 ve (negative) phase of the Southern Annular Mode. The key region determini
 ng the fate of the drifters is east and southeast of Elephant Island. Ther
 e\, a southward shift of ocean fronts during years of strong westerlies re
 stricts the connection from the Weddell Sea to the western AP\, and drifte
 rs follow the open paths to South Georgia and the east. The eastern AP she
 lf is a potential source region for Antarctic krill communities around Sou
 th Georgia. Drifter simulations and observations suggest connections betwe
 en communities on both sides of the AP. Changes in transports and travel t
 imes of material\, forced by atmospheric circulation changes\, are likely 
 to influence the ecosystem structure in the Scotia and Bellingshausen Seas
 .
LOCATION:British Antarctic Survey\, Room 330B
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