Outflow of dense water from a Svalbard fjord into the Fram Strait

Abstract

A plume of dense bottom water from Storfjorden in Svalbard spreads northward along the eastern side of Fram Strait. During its descent to depths of more than 2000 m the plume entrains some 500% of surface and intermediate waters. Based on observations from 1986 it appears to contribute about 5–10% to the annual deep water production of the polar basins.