About this Research Topic
The Arctic Ocean is undergoing dramatic changes. Sea ice extent and thickness have been declining steadily, air temperatures have been rapidly increasing, and the hydrological cycle has been accelerating. As a result of the enhanced ice loss, the Arctic Ocean is now more susceptible to hydrodynamic and thermodynamic forcing. For example, the central Arctic has become more energetic due to the increased momentum transfer from the atmosphere to the ocean, along with more frequent wind-driven upwelling and polynya formation. At the same time, the upper ocean is absorbing excess solar energy in response to sea ice decline, while more heat is being transported through the Arctic atmospheric and oceanic gateways.
The variabilities of the Arctic Ocean strongly influence the global climate via atmosphere-ocean interactions and Arctic-subarctic freshwater and heat fluxes. The changing ocean has had both local and remote effects on atmospheric circulation, including intensified storms and more frequent extreme weather conditions. Enhanced freshwater export from the Arctic into the North Atlantic, in conjunction with the sea ice decline, is thought to be impacting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). In response to the physical changes, the regional ecosystem is also facing challenges, such as increasing occurrences of under-ice phytoplankton blooms, invasion of subarctic species into the Arctic, harmful algal blooms are threatening the regional ecosystems in the Pacific Arctic Ocean.
This research topic aims to understand the variations and dynamics of physical processes in the Arctic Ocean, and their relevant effects on the climate and marine ecosystem of the Arctic. Topics include, but are not limited to the following subtopics:
(1) The state of the circulation in the Arctic Ocean under the changing Atmosphere-ice-ocean interaction.
(2) The evolution of water masses and ventilation of the Arctic interior.
(3) Interactions between the Arctic and the subarctic regions in terms of water mass and heat exchanges in the Pacific and Atlantic sectors,.
(4) The roles of the changing physical processes in regulating the Arctic marine ecosystem: e.g., invasion of subarctic species into the Arctic, massive harmful algal blooms.
The variabilities of the Arctic Ocean strongly influence the global climate via atmosphere-ocean interactions and Arctic-subarctic freshwater and heat fluxes. The changing ocean has had both local and remote effects on atmospheric circulation, including intensified storms and more frequent extreme weather conditions. Enhanced freshwater export from the Arctic into the North Atlantic, in conjunction with the sea ice decline, is thought to be impacting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). In response to the physical changes, the regional ecosystem is also facing challenges, such as increasing occurrences of under-ice phytoplankton blooms, invasion of subarctic species into the Arctic, harmful algal blooms are threatening the regional ecosystems in the Pacific Arctic Ocean.
This research topic aims to understand the variations and dynamics of physical processes in the Arctic Ocean, and their relevant effects on the climate and marine ecosystem of the Arctic. Topics include, but are not limited to the following subtopics:
(1) The state of the circulation in the Arctic Ocean under the changing Atmosphere-ice-ocean interaction.
(2) The evolution of water masses and ventilation of the Arctic interior.
(3) Interactions between the Arctic and the subarctic regions in terms of water mass and heat exchanges in the Pacific and Atlantic sectors,.
(4) The roles of the changing physical processes in regulating the Arctic marine ecosystem: e.g., invasion of subarctic species into the Arctic, massive harmful algal blooms.
Keywords: Arctic Ocean circulation, Water mass, Arctic-subarctic exchanges, Arctic marine ecosystem, Freshwater content, Ice-ocean interaction, Climate impacts
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