Tritium concentrations in Ross Sea and Antarctic Circumpolar Current

During the austral summer of 1977-78, seawater samples were collected from the Ross Sea and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current for analysis by the Mount Soledad Tritium Laboratory. Stations 4 through 6 lie along the Ross Ice Shelf and show a uniform tritium distribution throughout the water column. The constant tritium concentrations in all layers point to the rapid renewal of deeper water masses in the Ross Sea. Station 3 was at the continental shelf break. A small minimum appears to be present at the middle depths. Stations 1 and 2 are in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. At station 1, located north of the Antarctic polar front, tritium concentrations are still half of surface values at 800 meters. At station 2, tritium concentrations decline rapidly with depth, dropping to blank values at slightly below 200 meters. However, a high tritium value is found at 2000 meters