Modelling the Mean Circulation of Baffin Bay

Abstract

The Princeton Ocean Model is applied to the Baffin Bay and Labrador region in order to model the summer mean circulation and transport of Baffin Bay. Several aspects of the mean circulation are investigated, but are restricted to the month of September when hydrographic data are available. These include the horizontal and vertical structure of the currents, the sensitivity of the volume transport to the boundary forcing and the effect of the local wind forcing. The model results are shown to be in general agreement with observations. The model reproduces the strongest currents: (a) offshore from the coast of Baffin Island and Ellesmere Island, and (b) at the mouth of Lancaster Sound. The model results also show the presence of the relatively strong southward current along the shelf break on the eastern side of the bay. Strong topographic control is evident in Davis Strait and in the vicinity of deep canyons on the continental shelf of western Greenland. Model sensitivity studies show that the Baffin Bay outflow through western Davis Strait is controlled mainly by the inflow from the archipelago. The inflow through eastern Davis Strait is controlled by both the archipelago inflow and the transport in the Labrador Sea gyre. The local wind stress plays a relatively unimportant role.