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A Multi-Decade Tracer Study of the Circulation and Spreading Rates of Atlantic Water in the Arctic Ocean
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  • Angelica Pasqualini,
  • Peter Schlosser,
  • Robert Newton,
  • William M Smethie,
  • Ronny Friedrich
Angelica Pasqualini
Arizona State University
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Peter Schlosser
Columbia University

Corresponding Author:schlosser@ldeo.columbia.edu

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Robert Newton
Columbia University
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William M Smethie
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
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Ronny Friedrich
Curt-Engelhorn-Center Archaeometrie
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Abstract

In this contribution we present tritium-3He (3H-3He) apparent ages and hydrographic data from 21 expeditions spanning 27 years of Arctic Ocean section work (1987 to 2013) to estimate flow paths and spreading velocities of the Atlantic Waters (AW) circulation on a pan-Arctic scale. Tracer data independently reveal and add a time dimension to the well-organized boundary current that cyclonically flows along the continental slope and add insights into the other circulation branches of the Atlantic layer, hypothesized to be guided by deep topography (Rudels, et al., 1994). Mean spreading velocities differ between the individual branches of the overall circulation pattern. The velocity of the boundary current, as derived from tracer measurements, is approximately 0.8 to 1.5 cm s-1, with no significant difference between the upper and lower Atlantic Water layer. The tritium-3He tracer data show that within the limits of our method the current flow system has been stable over the study period.