Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons^™

Eddy-Driven Transport Of Particulate Organic Carbon-Rich Coastal Water Off The West Antarctic Peninsula, Renato M. Castelao, Michael S. Dinniman, Caitlin M. Amos, John M. Klinck, Patricia M. Medeiros

CCPO Publications

The Southern Ocean is characterized by high eddy activity and high particulate organic carbon (POC) content during summer, especially near Antarctica. Because it encircles the globe, it provides a pathway for inter‐basin exchange. Here, we use satellite observations and a high‐resolution ocean model to quantify offshore transport of coastal water rich in POC off the West Antarctic Peninsula. We show that nonlinear cyclonic eddies generated near the coast often trap coastal water rich in POC during formation before propagating offshore. As a result, cyclones found offshore that were generated near the coast have on average higher POC content in their …