Responses of the Ross Sea to the Climate Change: Importance of observations in the Ross Sea,  Antarctica

Seung-Tae Yoon

doi:10.4217/OPR.2022004

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2022 Vol.44, Issue 1 Preview Page Next Page

Review

Responses of the Ross Sea to the Climate Change: Importance of observations in the Ross Sea, Antarctica 기후변화에 따른 남극 로스해 반응에 관한 고찰: 남극 로스해 관측의 중요성

30 March 2022. pp. 69-82

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Abstract

The Ross Sea, Antarctica plays an important role in the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) which is the densest water mass in global thermohaline circulation. Of the AABW, 25% is formed in the Ross Sea, and sea ice formation at the polynya (ice-free area) developed in front of ice shelves of the Ross Sea is considered as a pivotal mechanism for AABW production. For this reason, monitoring the Ross Sea variations is very important to understand changes of global thermohaline circulation influenced by climate change. In addition, the Ross Sea is also regarded as a natural laboratory in investigating ice-ocean interactions owing to the development of the polynya. In this article, I introduce characteristics of the Ross Sea described in previous observational studies, and investigate variations that have occurred in the Ross Sea in the past and those taking place in the present. Furthermore, based on these observational results, I outline variations or changes that can be anticipated in the Ross Sea in the future, and make an appeal to researchers regarding the importance and necessity of continuous observations in the Ross Sea.

Keywords

Ross Sea

polynya

Antarctic Bottom Water

salinity of shelf water

climate change

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Information

Publisher :Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
Publisher(Ko) :한국해양과학기술원
Journal Title :Ocean and Polar Research
Journal Title(Ko) :Ocean and Polar Research
Volume : 44
No :1
Pages :69-82
Received Date : 2021-11-12
Revised Date : 2022-01-13
Accepted Date : 2022-01-27
DOI :https://doi.org/10.4217/OPR.2022004

Ocean and Polar Research ISSN:2234-7313(Online) Ocean and Polar Research

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