TY - JOUR

T1 - The Northeast Greenland Sirius Water Polynya dynamics and variability inferred from satellite imagery

AU - Pedersen, Jørn Bjarke Torp

AU - Kaufmann, Laura Hauch

AU - Kroon, Aart

AU - Jakobsen, Bjarne Holm

PY - 2010/12

Y1 - 2010/12

N2 - One of the most prominent polynyas in Northeast Greenland, alreadynoted by the early expeditions in the area, is located around ShannonØ and Pendulum Øer between 75° and 74°N in the transitionzone between the fast ice and pack ice. This study names the polynyathe ‘Sirius Water Polynya’, and examines its spatial and temporaldynamics by analysis of recent satellite imagery, modelled meteorologicaldata and historical data covering the last decade. Thedominating mechanisms to form and sustain the polynya are inferredand the persistence and inter-annual variability of the phenomenonare estimated. The polynya formation is predominantly governed bymechanical forcing caused by northerly gales, and it is classifiedas a wind-driven shelf water polynya. A marked seasonal differencein the surface wind field, together with the obvious seasonal cyclein insolation, creates distinct winter and summer regimes in theseasonal evolution of the polynya. During the winter regime, boththe size of and the ice cover within the polynya varies significantlyon a temporal and spatial scale. Intermittent wind-driven openingsof the polynya alternate with periods of increasing ice cover. Someof the most persistent areas of open water in the polynya coincidewith locations where significant concentrations of spring and summersettlements from the Thule Inuit culture (AD 1400-1850) are observed,indicating a connection between the presence of the polynyaand the Thule Inuit living in the area in prehistoric times

AB - One of the most prominent polynyas in Northeast Greenland, alreadynoted by the early expeditions in the area, is located around ShannonØ and Pendulum Øer between 75° and 74°N in the transitionzone between the fast ice and pack ice. This study names the polynyathe ‘Sirius Water Polynya’, and examines its spatial and temporaldynamics by analysis of recent satellite imagery, modelled meteorologicaldata and historical data covering the last decade. Thedominating mechanisms to form and sustain the polynya are inferredand the persistence and inter-annual variability of the phenomenonare estimated. The polynya formation is predominantly governed bymechanical forcing caused by northerly gales, and it is classifiedas a wind-driven shelf water polynya. A marked seasonal differencein the surface wind field, together with the obvious seasonal cyclein insolation, creates distinct winter and summer regimes in theseasonal evolution of the polynya. During the winter regime, boththe size of and the ice cover within the polynya varies significantlyon a temporal and spatial scale. Intermittent wind-driven openingsof the polynya alternate with periods of increasing ice cover. Someof the most persistent areas of open water in the polynya coincidewith locations where significant concentrations of spring and summersettlements from the Thule Inuit culture (AD 1400-1850) are observed,indicating a connection between the presence of the polynyaand the Thule Inuit living in the area in prehistoric times

M3 - Journal article

VL - 110

SP - 131

EP - 142

JO - Geografisk Tidsskrift

JF - Geografisk Tidsskrift

SN - 0016-7223

IS - 2

ER -