Monitoring Drake Passage with elephant seals: Frontal structures and snapshots of transport

Lars Boehme, S E Thorpe, M Biuw, Michael Andre Fedak, M P Meredith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Conductivity-temperature-pressure satellite relay data loggers (CTD-SRDLs) were attached to southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on the island of South Georgia. During the animals' migration the CTD-SRDLs recorded and transmitted hydrographic profiles at a rate of approximately two profiles per day to an average depth of about 547 m, representing transect-type sections with a spatial resolution of 16-47 km along the migratory routes of the seals. Two sections are used to clearly identify the locations of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current fronts across Drake Passage, providing in situ data complementary to satellite and other techniques. An empirical relationship between upper ocean temperature and baroclinic mass transport is used to determine the transport through Drake Passage at the times of the sections, and these transports are compared with estimates derived by other techniques. An absolute geostrophic velocity section across Drake Passage is calculated using CTD-SRDL data and data of absolute geostrophic surface velocities from altimetry. The mean total baroclinic transports in June 2004 and April 2005 are estimated to be 124 X 10(6) +/- 14 X 10(6) m(3) s(-1) and 112 X 10(6) +/- 14 X 10(6) m(3) s(-1) respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2350-2360
Number of pages11
JournalLimnology and Oceanography
Volume53
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2008

Keywords

  • ANTARCTIC CIRCUMPOLAR CURRENT
  • SOUTHERN-OCEAN FRONTS
  • EXPENDABLE BATHYTHERMOGRAPH
  • POLAR FRONT
  • VARIABILITY
  • TEMPERATURE
  • 140-DEGREES-E
  • LOCATION
  • TASMANIA
  • ATLANTIC

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Monitoring Drake Passage with elephant seals: Frontal structures and snapshots of transport'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this