CHANGES IN THE HYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INCREASING RIVER RUNOFF

Abstract

The paper considers issues related to the influence of increased Arctic river runoff on the formation of the thermohaline structure of waters outside the Arctic shelf and, in particular, on the variability of heat content of the deep Arctic Ocean. The study is carried out using the three-dimensional numerical model of the ocean and sea ice SibCIOM and atmospheric reanalysis data NCEP/NCAR. Numerical simulation results showed that increased flow of Arctic rivers contributes to the stability of water stratification outside the shelf areas, which reduces the depth of autumn-winter mixing and allows Atlantic waters spreading along the continental slope to retain their heat. This is evidenced by an increase in the heat content of the upper 200 m layer waters of the eastern Eurasian basin and the rise of the Atlantic water layer upper boundary in this region.