Temporal and spatial variability of the oceanic front between the Atlantic Water and adjacent water masses north of Svalbard

Abstract

The inflow of warm Atlantic Water (AW) into the Arctic Ocean is controlled byoceanic fronts and air-ocean interactions north of Svalbard. The warm AW hasa significant impact on the sea ice extent and marine ecosystems in the region.Therefore, it is crucial to understand the variability of the oceanic fronts offshore andonshore of the AW, including their temporal and spatial characteristics, as well asthe mechanisms that govern them, such as atmospheric forcing, frontal instabilities,and advection. However, our current understanding of the variability of these frontsand AW north of Svalbard is limited due to lack of observational data. In this study,we will use historical and more recent hydrographic data to analyze and describesurface and subsurface fronts, both offshore and onshore of the AW core, in terms oftheir dominant water masses along the continental slope north of Svalbard. We willalso determine the strength and position of these fronts by examining the horizontalgradients in temperature, salinity, and density, and connect it to known changes inthe wind forcing.