Modeling the intrusion pathways of Upper Circumpolar Deep Water to a biologically productive canyon

Printer-friendly version

Palmer Deep is a biologically productive canyon located approximately 100 km shoreward of the shelf break of the west Antarctic Peninsula. 26,460 drifters were released at various depths along the continental shelf of the west Antarctic Pensinsula in a 4km-resolution ROMS model at 2 day intervals for a period of one month. Simultaneously, 12,096 drifters were released in Palmer Deep alone. Drifter trajectories were analyzed to study the pathways by which relatively warm, nutrient-rich Upper Circumpolar Deep Water reaches the biologically active regions of the canyon.