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SUMMARY:Mesoscale variability in the Weddell Sea:  gliders\, drifters and
  models - Andrew Thompson (Caltech)
DTSTART:20140520T130000Z
DTEND:20140520T140000Z
UID:TALK52570@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Dan Jones
DESCRIPTION:The circulation of the northwestern Weddell Sea influences the
  ventilation of deep water in the global overturning circulation as well a
 s the injection of nutrient-rich shelf waters into the Scotia Sea.  The p
 hysical processes that govern variability in these different exchange proc
 esses are explored using both idealized models of the gyre circulation and
  observations from ocean glider and drifter deployments.  The Weddell gyr
 e's complex boundary current system is found to undergo interannual variat
 ions in its position and strength that impacts surface export pathways to 
 the Scotia Sea and thus chlorophyll distributions.  A simple two-layer mo
 del of the gyre dynamics is able to explain this variability and emphasize
 s the role of mesoscale motions in rapid adjustments of the boundary curre
 nts over the continental slope.  This view differs from traditional wave-
 induced modification processes.  Hydrographic profiles collected from oce
 an gliders during a two month survey of this slope-front circulation are a
 lso consistent with an important role for mesoscale eddies influencing bot
 h export from the Weddell Sea and cross-frontal exchange at the shelf brea
 k.  These results suggest that mesoscale variability may\, in part\, dete
 rmine the closure of the ocean's lower overturning cell at its southern bo
 undary.
LOCATION:British Antarctic Survey\, Room 330B
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