Atmospheric forcing of DSOW salinity

J. Holfort (1) , T. Albrecht (2)

1 Institut für Meereskunde [Hamburg]
2 Deutsche Marine

The temporal evolution of the characteristics of Denmark Strait Overflow Water (DSOW) is reconstructed using hydrographic data and compared with possible atmospheric forcing mechanisms. It is concluded that the main factor influencing the DSOW characteristics at a time scale of one to several years is the difference in mean sea level pressure across, respective wind along Denmark Strait. The main process which leads to salinity changes in the DSOW is therefore changing percentages of the different water masses involved in the DSOW formation and not the changes of the characteristics of these water masses.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère

J. Holfort, T. Albrecht. Atmospheric forcing of DSOW salinity. Ocean Science Discussions, 2006, 3 (5), pp.1661-1680. ⟨hal-00298431⟩