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Detailed Reference Information |
Kwok, R. (2005). Variability of Nares Strait ice flux. Geophysical Research Letters 32: doi: 10.1029/2005GL024768. issn: 0094-8276. |
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Six years (1996--2002) of Arctic Ocean ice flux into the Nares Strait are estimated using RADARSAT ice motion. This represents a first consistent multi-year record of Nares Strait outflow for examination of seasonal and interannual variability. Across an ~30 km gate at the entrance to Robeson Channel, the average annual (Sept--Aug) ice area flux is 33 ¿ 103 km2 and ranges from 16 ¿ 103 km2 in 2000 to 48 ¿ 103 km2 in 1999. Uncertainties in the 3-day ice displacements and ice flux are small. Assuming 4 m thick ice, the average volume flux amounts to ~130 km3 (~4 mSv); this is ~7% of the mean annual Fram Strait ice flux. Seasonally, ice flux is most active after July, ceases after the formation of an ice arch in mid- to late-winter, and re-commences after breakup in summer. The multiyear (MY) ice coverage of the area poleward of the gate is high (>80%). South of the gate, the MY ice coverage is highly variable and the strait may be filled with multiyear or seasonal ice. Our estimates are placed in the context of others and uncertainties in the other components of Canadian Archipelago ice flux and are discussed. |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Cryosphere, Sea ice, Cryosphere, Remote sensing, Cryosphere, Mass balance (1218, 1223), Cryosphere, Dynamics, Oceanography, General, Arctic and Antarctic oceanography (9310, 9315) |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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