Evolution of the Deep Water in the Canadian Basin in the Arctic Ocean

Abstract

Abstract An overflow of magnitude 0.25 Sv (Sv ≡ 106 m−3 s−1) has been predicted to enter the Makarov Basin (part of the Canadian Basin in the Arctic Ocean) from the Eurasian Basin via a deep gap in the dividing Lomonosov ridge. The authors argue that this overflow does not ventilate the deep Makarov Basin (below 2400 m) where the water is too warm and salty to be compatible with such a large cold fresh inflow. However, complete isolation of the homogeneous bottom layer of the Makarov Basin must be ruled out because changes there are too small to arise from more than a small fraction of the measured geothermal heat flux into the basin. A small cold fresh inflow of about 0.01 Sv from the Amundsen Basin seems to be required. This could occur if the gap in the dividing Lomonosov Ridge is shallower than previously thought. It could also occur if there is active mixing and dilution of the predicted overflow in the gap, leaving only a small fraction to descend into the deep Makarov Basin. Hydraulic theory and hydrographic observations are used to rule out any significant flow of dense water from the Makarov Basin into the deep Canada Basin, confirming previous hypotheses of isolation of the deep water in the Canada Basin.