The Science behind the project
In ARCTIC-FLOW, we will use a combination of state-of-the-art high quality satellite estimates of sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity and sea surface currents, together with an in-situ derived product of mixed layer depth, for the generation of a 16-year temporal series (2011-2026) of density and freshwater fluxes daily maps at 25 km spatial resolution.
This innovative EO dataset will be exploited by and delivered to advance in our knowledge about key science questions of the Arctic dynamics and its relationship with climate.
The new satellite-derived assessment of freshwater and density fluxes will be used to study changes in water column density on different time scales, with a focus on the upper ocean stratification and water mass transformation in the subpolar North Atlantic and the Nordic Seas.
Changes in upper ocean density caused by the advection of cold and fresh Arctic water from the north, warm and salty Atlantic water from the south have a profound effect on convection in the Nordic Seas and the subpolar North Atlantic.
By providing dense water to the lower limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), ventilating the deep ocean, and impactingt its heat, salinity, oxygen, or carbon dioxide storage, the vertical convection of the ocean is a fundamental process for the Earth’s climate system. In addition, the upper ocean stratification in the northern polar regions affects the interactions between ocean, sea ice and atmosphere regionally in the Arctic Ocean and, thus, influences the Arctic marine ecosystems.
The table below details on how the Science Questions identified by the ARCTIC-FLOW team map into th planned activities for the project.
| ID | Science Questions | Planned Activities |
|---|---|---|
| SQ1 | Key dense water production areas based on the new EO products and earlier estimates | Scientific analysis of in situ data and in situ derived products, model simulation results (FESOM2), and satellite data (Nordic Seas, 2000/2011-2026) |
| SQ2 SQ3 | Impact of spatially varying density fluxes on the upper ocean structure Key processes driving convection and regional overturning and their response to changes in density fluxes and the upper ocean structure. | Synthesis of the main results from scientific analysis of EO products, in situ data, and model experiments addressing the upper ocean structure. Identification of features in the new EO products not fully reproduced by models or captured by in situ measurements. Assessment of the potential impact of these new features on the understanding of the overturning in the studied region (Nordic Seas) |
| SQ4 | Evolution of density fluxes in the upper ocean in the Arctic and sub-Arctic in 2011-2026 (spatial and temporal scales) | Scientific analysis of the seasonal cycle and interannual variability of the new EO products. Assessment of the typical spatial scales associated to the annual and interannual variability. Assessment of the contribution of the T&S changes and MLD to variability of density fluxes on different temporal and spatial scales |
| SQ5 | Evolution and impacts of the extreme freshening event propagating poleward | Scientific analysis of new EO products, atmospheric reanalysis products and in situ observations with a focus on evolution of freshwater anomalies in the North Atlantic and Nordic Seas |
| SQ6 SQ7 | Added value of the new EO products for the large-scale monitoring strategies Uptake of assessment, validation and quantification of the uncertainties of the new EO products in the future ESA EO missions | Investigation of the further development possibilities of in situ observation network and modelling capabilities including assimilation techniques in relation to dense water formation. Critical analysis of the prospects for further EO development in relation to dense water formation and regarding Copernicus’ Sentinel Expansion Missions. A synthesis of scientific analysis to provide input to future planning of combined EO and in situ observations and guidance on their use in model experiments. Preparation of recommendations for planning of future EO missions and development of iAOOS. |
ARCTIC-FLOW 