Articles | Volume 19, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2229-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2229-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
25 Jun 2025
Research article |
| 25 Jun 2025
| 25 Jun 2025
Mechanisms and impacts of anomalous high-salinity shelf water formation in the Ross Sea
Xiaoqiao Wang
College of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, China
Key Laboratory of High Impact Weather (special), China Meteorological Administration, Changsha, China
Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education and School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Polar Life and Environment Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Polar Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, 200136, China
Chuan Xie
Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education and School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
Xi Zhao
School of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, China
Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Observation of Polar Environment, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai, 519082, China
Chuning Wang
Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education and School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Polar Life and Environment Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Polar Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
Heng Hu
Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education and School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
Yuanjie Chen
Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education and School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
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Short summary
Global bottom water originates from high-salinity shelf water (HSSW), formed by intense sea ice production (SIP) in the Southern Ocean. This study uses numerical outputs for the Ross Sea to examine the extreme HSSW event in 2007, when atmospheric circulations enhanced SIP, resulting in the highest HSSW volume in a decade. However, salinity was low, owing to increased meltwater. The findings highlight the complex interplay between SIP and ice shelf melting, with key implications for ocean processes.
Global bottom water originates from high-salinity shelf water (HSSW), formed by intense sea ice...
