C11D-01
WARMING OF UPPER CIRCUMPOLAR DEEP WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT IN WEST ANATARCTIC PENINSULA
Monday, 14 December 2015: 08:00
3007 (Moscone West)
Douglas G Martinson, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Division of Ocean and Climate Physics, Palisades, NY, United States and Darren C McKee, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Division of Ocean & Climate Physics, Palisades, NY, United States
Abstract:
This talk focuses on dramatic changes in the western Antarctic Peninsula, such as the large polynya now observed every winter over the continental shelf extending half the length of the peninsula until late mid-late July, warming of Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW) and atmosphere and, changes in seabird diet. The changes are placed in the context of the warming UCDW (the external "climate" forcing to the system). The location and frequency of delivery of UCDW on the continental shelf and its subsequent spread to the north, to a large part controls the spatial distribution of the changes. This is dictated by the shelf bathymetry, possibly limiting the spatial extent of the regional response to the climate forcing.
