FORMATION OF DENMARK STRAIT OVERFLOW WATER BY MIXING IN THE EAST GREENLAND CURRENT

Hydrographic data and current meter records from the East Greenland Current, collected during the period 1987 to 1989 around the latitude of the central Greenland Sea, reveal the formation of a water mass having the characteristics of Denmark Strait Overflow Water (DSOW). The downstream (southwestward) transport of this newly formed water mass can be substantial, amounting to roughly half of the outflow of DSOW through Denmark Strait as reported in the literature. The formation of DSOW in the East Greenland Current results from isopycnic mixing of recirculated Atlantic Water and Upper Arctic Intermediate Water. Substantial formation occurs when the necessary conditions for baroclinic instability are satisfied and the current variability due to mesoscale eddies is high; this is subject to significant changes from year to year.