2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting

February 21-26

Processes occurring at or close to the ice-ocean interface around Antarctica influence the state and circulation of a large proportion of the global ocean. Over 1/3 of the global sub-surface ocean is filled and ventilated by Antarctic Bottom Water, largely sourced from the Weddell and Ross Seas. Sea ice exported from coastal polynyas freshens surface waters further north, contributing to the formation of Antarctic Intermediate Water. Inflow of warm Circumpolar Deep Water beneath floating shelves of marine-terminating glaciers promotes retreat of the grounded portion of the ice sheet, and thus sea level rise. Yet our understanding of these processes has historically been limited by the prohibitive costs of in situ observations and high-resolution models. This session will showcase recent advances in understanding the physical processes occurring in the Antarctic marginal seas, across the Antarctic continental shelf and slope, and within the ocean cavities beneath floating ice shelves. Studies based on observations, numerical models and theory are all welcome. The conveners particularly encourage submissions addressing mechanisms that facilitate water mass exchanges across the Antarctic continental slope, the role of short-timescale flows like mesoscale eddies, tides, and dense water overflows, and processes occurring at the interface between the ocean and sea/shelf ice.

• A - Air-sea Interactions and Upper Ocean Processes
• OD - Ocean Observing and Data Management
• TP - Turbulent Processes