ADELIE Antarctic Drifter Experiment: Links to Isobaths and Ecosystems.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Environmental Sciences
Abstract
Recent data suggest that, contrary to prevailing views, there are pathways for near surface currents around the Peninsula to the west. If proved, these would be important for the retention and/or dispersal of krill larvae and other passive drifting particles. The Antarctic Slope Front appears to lose its properties as it enters the Weddell Scotia Confluence. The ADELIE project will deploy 20 surface drifters and 4 Argo floats near the Antarctic Peninsula. The surface drifters are designed to follow the ocean current and will telemeter their position back via satellite several times a day. The Argo floats are designed to float deep in the ocean, at about 1000 m, following the current there. Every 10 days they come up to the surface, measuring temperature and salinity as they go, and telemeter their location and the profile data back via satellite. These floats and drifters will span the Antarctic Coastal Current and Antarctic Slope Front. A section of temperature and salinity across these flows will indicate their locations and quantify their strength. Their pathways will be mapped for the first time. The influence of bathymetry controlling the splitting and steering of these frontal jets will be studied. Output from eddy resolving ocean models (some with sea ice) will be analysed and virtual drifters deployed in their flow fields.
Organisations
Publications
Heywood K
(2009)
Surface Circulation at the Tip of the Antarctic Peninsula from Drifters
in Journal of Physical Oceanography
Heywood KJ
(2014)
Ocean processes at the Antarctic continental slope.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Renner A
(2012)
Advective pathways near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula: Trends, variability and ecosystem implications
in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
Renner A
(2009)
Validation of three global ocean models in the Weddell Sea
in Ocean Modelling
Thompson A
(2008)
Frontal structure and transport in the northwestern Weddell Sea
in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
Trasviña A
(2011)
The impact of high-frequency current variability on dispersion off the eastern Antarctic Peninsula
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Wadley M
(2014)
The role of iron sources and transport for Southern Ocean productivity
in Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
Youngs M
(2015)
Weddell Sea Export Pathways from Surface Drifters
in Journal of Physical Oceanography
Description | This project mapped for the first time the currents at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. We were the first to deploy surface drifters there, which have filled a gap in the global coverage in the Global Drifter Program. We quantified how the flows can spread a tracer, and how the flow is determined by the steepness of the slope of the sea bed. We measured temperature, salinity and velocity of the water coming out of the Weddell Sea, and were able to show that there are several important fronts (boundaries) in the ocean there. Most recently, we compared the 2007 drifter deployment with the 2012 drifter deployment and were able to document important changes due to climate variability. |
Exploitation Route | These data are important for management of krill fisheries (e.g. CCAMLR) and for the British Antarctic Survey. |
Sectors | Environment |
Description | Brazilian PhD studentship funding |
Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Government of Brazil |
Sector | Public |
Country | Brazil |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | ERC Advanced Grant |
Amount | € 3,500,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | NSFPLR-NERC: Thwaites-Amundsen Regional Survey and Network (TARSAN) |
Amount | £481,653 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/S006419/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2018 |
End | 06/2025 |
Description | Processes Influencing Carbon Cycling: Observations of the Lower limb of the Antarctic Overturning (PICCOLO) |
Amount | £688,827 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/P021395/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 07/2027 |