story by Helen Hill for MITgcm

By integrating MITgcm with satellite altimetry data, German researchers are able to validate Chukchi Sea observations and refine their understanding of the region’s ocean circulation patterns.

In a new study, researchers at the Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut, Technische Universität München (DGFI-TUM) have unveiled new insights into the circulation patterns of the Chukchi Sea and the flow reversals in the Bering Strait. This research, led by Maria N. Pisareva, leveraging reprocessed satellite altimetry data, provides a detailed understanding of the dynamic ocean topography and geostrophic currents in one of the most remote and climatically significant regions on Earth. The work is published in Ocean Dynamics.

The Arctic Ocean, particularly the Chukchi Sea, is notoriously difficult to study due to its harsh conditions and limited accessibility. Traditional oceanographic in-situ measurements are sparse, making it challenging to capture the full picture of oceanic flows and their variability. However, satellite altimetry offers a powerful tool to overcome these limitations, providing precise information on sea surface heights and current patterns across different spatial and temporal scales.

Pisareva and her team created a novel long-term observational dataset using advanced algorithms and techniques to process satellite altimetry data. This dataset spans from 2013 to 2023 and includes high-resolution measurements (10-day intervals and 8 km spatial resolution) of sea level and ocean currents. The researchers focused on detecting leads – long, linear areas of open water within a sea ice cover, typically formed when ice diverges or pulls apart – and determining sea surface heights in the ice-covered regions of the Chukchi Sea, enabling them to observe general patterns and synoptic variability of regional sea level and geostrophic flow.

To simulate the complex oceanic flows and interactions with topography, the researchers referred to a previous study (Pisareva et al., 2015), where the MIT General Circulation Model allowed the authors to incorporate detailed physical processes and accurately represent the dynamics of the Chukchi Sea and Bering Strait.

One of the most significant findings of the study is the identification of flow reversals in the Bering Strait, linked to anomalously strong northeasterly wind events over the Chukchi Shelf. These reversals occur when the typically northward flow through the strait is disrupted by strong winds, causing the water to flow southward instead. This phenomenon was previously described in oceanographic studies, but the satellite altimetry-based dataset allowed Pisareva and her team to assess its development, forcing, and variability with unprecedented detail.

The response of the along-strait flow to these northerly winds is particularly strong during the fall when there is no sea ice and remains well-correlated during winter and spring when partial ice cover is present. This finding highlights the complex interplay between atmospheric conditions and oceanic flows in the Arctic.

The Chukchi Sea serves as a critical transition region for Pacific-origin waters flowing northward through the Bering Strait into the Arctic Ocean. These inflowing waters bring heat, freshwater, and nutrients to the Chukchi Shelf, significantly influencing the physical and ecological properties of the entire Arctic Ocean. Understanding the circulation patterns and flow reversals in this region is essential for predicting the impacts of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems.

The study’s findings have profound implications for our understanding of Arctic Ocean dynamics. By providing a detailed analysis of sea level and current variability, Pisareva and her team have contributed valuable data that can be used to improve climate models and enhance predictions of future changes in the Arctic.

The researchers plan to continue their work by expanding the dataset and refining their algorithms to capture even more detailed measurements of oceanic flows. They aim to explore the broader implications of their findings for global ocean circulation and climate projections, particularly in the context of ongoing climate change.

To find out more about this work, contact Maria

Story image: Sea ice in the Chukchi Sea. Credit: Jannelle Trowbridge ANSEP intern, USGS Via https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/chukchi-sea-sea-ice

About the Researcher

Maria Pisareva is a researcher and PhD candidate at Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut Technische Universität München (DGFI-TUM), working on a project “Arctic Ocean Surface Circulation in a Changing Climate and its Possible Impact on Europe” (AROCCIE) for the grant of International Graduate School of Science and Engineering (IGSSE). With coauthors, they have been using MITgcm to simulate the circulation in the Bering Strait region since 2015.

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