TY - JOUR
T1 - Vertical redistribution of principle water masses on the Northeast Greenland Shelf
AU - Gjelstrup, Caroline V. B.
AU - Sejr, Mikael K.
AU - de Steur, Laura
AU - Christiansen, Jørgen Schou
AU - Granskog, Mats A.
AU - Koch, Boris P.
AU - Møller, Eva Friis
AU - Winding, Mie H. S.
AU - Stedmon, Colin A.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - The Northeast Greenland shelf (NEGS) is a recipient of Polar Water (PW) from the Arctic Ocean, Greenland Ice Sheet melt, and Atlantic Water (AW). Here, we compile hydrographical measurements to quantify long-term changes in fjords and coastal waters. We find a profound change in the vertical distribution of water masses, with AW shoaling >60 m and PW thinning >50 m since early 2000's. The properties of these waters have also changed. AW is now 1 °C warmer and the salinity of surface waters and PW are 1.8 and 0.68 lower, respectively. The AW changes have substantially weakened stratification south of ~74°N, indicating increased accessibility of heat and potentially nutrients associated with AW. The Atlantification earlier reported for the eastern Fram Strait and Barents Sea region has also propagated to the NEGS. The increased presence of AW, is an important driver for regional change leading to a likely shift in ecosystem structure and function.
AB - The Northeast Greenland shelf (NEGS) is a recipient of Polar Water (PW) from the Arctic Ocean, Greenland Ice Sheet melt, and Atlantic Water (AW). Here, we compile hydrographical measurements to quantify long-term changes in fjords and coastal waters. We find a profound change in the vertical distribution of water masses, with AW shoaling >60 m and PW thinning >50 m since early 2000's. The properties of these waters have also changed. AW is now 1 °C warmer and the salinity of surface waters and PW are 1.8 and 0.68 lower, respectively. The AW changes have substantially weakened stratification south of ~74°N, indicating increased accessibility of heat and potentially nutrients associated with AW. The Atlantification earlier reported for the eastern Fram Strait and Barents Sea region has also propagated to the NEGS. The increased presence of AW, is an important driver for regional change leading to a likely shift in ecosystem structure and function.
UR - https://doi.org/10.11583/DTU.15090207.v2
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-022-35413-z
DO - 10.1038/s41467-022-35413-z
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36496498
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 13
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
M1 - 7660
ER -