Tuerena, Robyn E, Hopkins, Jo, Buchanan, Pearse J, Ganeshram, Raja S, Norman, Louisa, Von Appen, Wilken-Jon, Tagliabue, Alessandro 
ORCID: 0000-0002-3572-3634, Doncila, Antonia, Graeve, Martin, Ludwichowski, Kai U et al (show 4 more authors)
(2021)
An Arctic Strait of Two Halves: The Changing Dynamics of Nutrient Uptake and Limitation Across the Fram Strait
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES, 35 (9).
ISSN 0886-6236, 1944-9224
Abstract
The hydrography of the Arctic Seas is being altered by ongoing climate change, with knock-on effects to nutrient dynamics and primary production. As the major pathway of exchange between the Arctic and the Atlantic, the Fram Strait hosts two distinct water masses in the upper water column, northward flowing warm and saline Atlantic Waters in the east, and southward flowing cold and fresh Polar Surface Water in the west. Here, we assess how physical processes control nutrient dynamics in the Fram Strait using nitrogen isotope data collected during 2016 and 2018. In Atlantic Waters, a weakly stratified water column and a shallow nitracline reduce nitrogen limitation. To the west, in Polar Surface Water, nitrogen limitation is greater because stronger stratification inhibits nutrient resupply from deeper water and lateral nitrate supply from central Arctic waters is low. A historical hindcast simulation of ocean biogeochemistry from 1970 to 2019 corroborates these findings and highlights a strong link between nitrate supply to Atlantic Waters and the depth of winter mixing, which shoaled during the simulation in response to a local reduction in sea-ice formation. Overall, we find that while the eastern Fram Strait currently experiences seasonal nutrient replenishment and high primary production, the loss of winter sea ice and continued atmospheric warming has the potential to inhibit deep winter mixing and limit primary production in the future.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | nutrients, Arctic Ocean, water mass, nitrate, isotopes, climate change |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Nov 2021 08:32 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jun 2026 09:24 |
| DOI: | 10.1029/2021GB006961 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GB006961 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3143036 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
Altmetric
Altmetric