Water mass formation at high latitudes

Water mass formation in the high latitude ocean is studied using a three- dimensional, coupled ice-ocean model and the Mellor-Yamada 2.5 level turbulence closure scheme. The snow-ice system is represented by a 3-level model. The coupled model is forced by specified strong winds and surface cooling. In the Greenland Sea marginal ice zone, convection can take place via ice edge upwelling, which can bring warm and saline waters to the surface. Influence of the ice cover and of the topography in pre-conditioning and selecting the location of deep convection are found to be relevant. In ice-covered areas such as in the Eurasian Basin, the upwelling type of ventilation of deeper water masses is not possible even though its deep water renewal rate is comparable to the Greenland Sea renewal rates. Here, two other deep water sources and their relative importance are considered: the effect of eddies separating from the West Spitsbergen Current and the effect of salty shelf waters