Precursors of Antarctic Bottom Water formed on the continental shelf off Larsen Ice Shelf

Abstract

The dense water flowing out from the Weddell Sea significantly contributes to Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) and plays an important role in the Meridional Overturning Circulation. The relative importance of the two major source regions, the continental shelves in front of Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf and Larsen Ice Shelf, however, remains unclear. Several studies focused on the contribution of the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf region for the deep and bottom water production within the Weddell Gyre, but the role of the Larsen Ice Shelf region for this process, especially the formation of deep water, remains speculative. Measurements made during the Polarstern cruise ANT XXIX-3 (2013) add evidence to the importance of the source in the western Weddell Sea. Using Optimum Multiparameter analysis we show that the dense water found on the continental shelf in front of the former Larsen A and B together with a very dense water originating from Larsen C increases the thickness and changes the θ/S characteristics of the layer that leaves the Weddell Sea to contribute to AABW.