Climatological Trend of Sea Water Temperature around the Antarctic Peninsula Waters in the Southern Ocean

Abstract

Abstract Climatological trend for the period of 1970 to 2009 in sea water temperature around the Antarctic Peninsular waters in the Southern Ocean was investigated. During the period from 1970 to 2009, sea water temperature in the top 500 m water column except 100 m increased at a rate of 0.003 - 0.011℃·yr -1 , but at 100 m it decreased at a rate of -0.003℃·yr -1 . Although long-term trend is generally warming, there were several periods of sharp changes between 1970 and 2009. Annual mean sea water temperature between surface and 500 m except 100 m decreased from the early of 1970s to the end of 1980s, and then it increased to the end of 2000s. In the entire water column between the surface and 500 m, sea water temperature closely correlated with the El Nino events expressed as the Southern Oscillation Index(SOI), and SOI and sea water temperature have a dominant period of about 3-5 years and decade. Key Words : Sea water temperature, Southern Ocean, Antarctic Peninsular, Climatological trend, Long-term variability