Alongshore winds force warm Atlantic Water toward Helheim Glacier in southeast Greenland | CU Experts

Enhanced transport of warm subsurface Atlantic Waters (AW) into; Greenland fjords has driven glacier mass loss, but the mechanisms; transporting AW to the fjords remain poorly characterized. Here, we; identify a wind-driver for AW inflow toward Sermilik Fjord abutting; Helheim Glacier, one of Greenland’s largest glaciers. Often associated; with the passing of cyclones and subsequent sea surface lowering, a; weakening or reversal of northeasterly alongshore winds stimulates; coastal ocean upwelling that, through interactions with Sermilik’s; bathymetric trough on the continental shelf, leads to enhanced AW; upwelling and inflow along the trough. These intrusions produce ocean; warming at deep moorings near Sermilik Fjord mouth (0.31±0.18°C) and; within the fjord (250m: 0.30±0.19°C; 350m: 0.17±0.09°C) that is not; diminished by subsequent coastal downwelling. Similar wind-driven; processes at other bathymetric trough regions around Greenland may play; a substantial role in ocean heat transport towards much of the Greenland; Ice Sheet.

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