Pathways and Water Mass Properties of the Thermocline and Intermediate Waters in the Solomon Sea

• DOI: 10.1175/jpo-d-16-0107.1
• Publication Date: 2016-07-27T22:05:31Z
• Authors: Cyril Germineaud; Alexandre Ganachaud; Janet Sprintall; Sophie Cravatte; Gérard Eldin; Marion S. Alberty; Emilien Privat
• Keywords: Isopycnal; Boundary current; Circumpolar deep water; Deep ocean water; Inflow; Antarctic Intermediate Water

Abstract The semienclosed Solomon Sea is the final passage in equatorward transit of South Pacific western boundary currents (WBCs) that play a key role heat and mass budgets equatorial Pacific. WBCs their associated water properties are examined using data from two oceanographic cruises undertaken during contrasting trade wind seasons: July 2012 March 2014. mean circulation transports with uncertainties determined cruise unique configuration an inverse box model formulated based on measured shipboard acoustic Doppler current profiler velocities. An intense inflow 36 Sv found entering July–August falls by 70% to 11 Large differences also total transport partitioning through each major exit passages season. Different masses WBC stream northeast Islands likely related northern Equatorial Current. Within Sea, isopycnal salinity gradients gradually stronger than within subtropical Pacific, induced diapycnal mixing processes. pathways exhibit distinct signatures salinity, oxygen, nutrients can be traced across significant modifications at straits south Woodlark Island.