Subpolar Circulation, Deep Water Formation and Air — Sea — Ice Interactions in Labrador and Greenland Seas

Abstract

The growth, drift and decay of the sea ice margins are closely related to the dynamics of the subpolar oceanic regions. This is especially true in the Greenland and Labrador Seas where warm northward currents (Norwegian and Irminger currents) encounter rapidly cooling atmospheric conditions and southward advancing sea ice and cold currents (East Greenland and Labrador currents). Location of the ice margin is partly due to the large oceanic heat flux from the deeper ocean which occurs primarily in winter when deep convection brings up warm water from below and prevents ice formation in early winter. After an historical data set analysis of Greenland and Labrador Seas hydrological characteristics, we are presenting some recent results about oceanic deep convection events and mesoscale dynamics close by an Ice edge which emphasized the role of the ocean in air — sea — ice interactions.