Abstract
Two high-resolution model simulations are used to investigate the spatio-temporal variability of the Arctic Ocean sea level. The model simulations reveal barotropic sea level variability at periods < 30 days, which is strongly captured by bottom pressure observations. The seasonal sea level variability is driven by volume ex-changes with the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the redistribution of the water by the wind. Halosteric effects due to river runoff and evaporation minus precipitation (EmPmR), ice melting/formation also contribute in the marginal seas and seasonal sea ice extent regions. In the central Arctic Ocean, especially the Canadian Basin, the decadal halosteric effect dominates sea level variability. Satellite altimetric observations and Gravity Re-covery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) measurements could be used to infer freshwater content changes in the Canadian Basin at periods longer than one year. The increasing number of profiles seems to capture fresh-water content changes since 2007, encouraging further data synthesis work with a more complicated interpola-tion method. Further, in-situ hydrographic observations should be enhanced to reveal the freshwater budget and close the gaps between satellite altimetry and GRACE, especially in the marginal seas.
Highlights
Sea level change reflects changing ocean conditions caused by ocean dynamics, atmospheric forcing, and terrestrial processes (Stammer et al, 2013)
Ocean circulation changes in the Canadian Basin result in freshwater accumulation and release, which is very well correlated to sea level changes (Koldunov et al, 2014; Proshutinsky et al, 2002)
The sparseness of in situ profiles, coarse resolution and significant uncertainties of satellite altimetry and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) observations result in large gaps in understanding the spatiotemporal variability of the Arctic sea level and its relations to the thermo-/halosteric effects and mass changes (Ludwigsen and Andersen, 2021)
Summary
The Arctic Ocean is experiencing pronounced changes (e.g., Perovich et al, 2020; AMAP, 2019). G. Lyu et al.: Arctic sea level variability from high-resolution model simulations and implications get et al, 2015) to explore seasonal to interannual sea level anomalies (SLAs), revealing different roles of mass-related changes, thermosteric and halosteric effects on different regions of the Barents Sea. the sparseness of in situ profiles, coarse resolution and significant uncertainties of satellite altimetry and GRACE observations result in large gaps in understanding the spatiotemporal variability of the Arctic sea level and its relations to the thermo-/halosteric effects and mass changes (Ludwigsen and Andersen, 2021). Previous studies mainly focus on the decadal sea level variability (e.g., Koldunov et al, 2014; Proshutinsky et al, 2007; Proshutinsky and Johnson, 1997), and no study has yet fully explored the Arctic sea level variability at different spectral bands, and its dependence on the mass component and the vertical oceanic variability Such a study could help identify critical regions and environmental parameters that need to be observed coordinately and point out observational gaps that need to be filled in the future.
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