Freshwater transport over the northeast Greenland shelf in Fram strait

Abstract

We assess the contribution of flow over the Northeast Greenland Shelf (NEGS) to the total freshwater transport (FWT) through the Fram Strait. We analyze available observations since 2013 consisting of hydrographic sections, new mooring data, and surface-geostrophic velocity and ERA5 winds. We provide first seasonal estimates of the FWT over the entire shelf and find a net southward FWT between 47 and 56 mSv (reference salinity 34.9), or ∼40%–45% of the total FWT through the Fram Strait. In summer, the long-term mean FWT east of 8°W cumulates to 27 mSv southward, there is no trend toward increasing FWT, and new mooring data show a large seasonal cycle. We show that the NEGS contributes significantly to the Arctic freshwater outflow, however, uncertainty is high. To close the Arctic freshwater budget and provide better FWT estimates to the North Atlantic, sustained year-round observations on the NEGS are essential.