Vertical redistribution of principle water masses on the Northeast Greenland Shelf

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 - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

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.

KW - Arctic Regions

KW - Ecosystem

KW - Greenland

KW - Ice Cover

KW - Salinity

KW - Water

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143642089&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-022-35413-z

DO - 10.1038/s41467-022-35413-z

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36496498

AN - SCOPUS:85143642089

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 13

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

IS - 1

M1 - 7660

ER -