Observations of thermohaline convection adjacent to Brunt Ice Shelf

Abstract

Observations were made of ocean microstructure and horizontal currents adjacent to Brunt Ice Shelf in the southeastern Weddell Sea. Periods of in situ supercooled water extending as deep as 65 m were associated with ice nucleation and frazil formation at depth. Ascending ice crystals due to convection lead to increased dissipation rates. The main outflow of potentially supercooled water from deep beneath ice shelf is suggested to be in the deep channel northeast of the measurement site. Because this water is advected southward along the front, it becomes in situ supercooled, leading to suspended ice formation, thermohaline convection, and enhanced dissipation. © 2012 American Meteorological Society.