Lagrangian Analysis of Fast-Transported Recirculating Atlantic Water in the Fram Strait

Abstract The characteristics of Recirculating Atlantic Water in the Fram Strait were investigated by examining the behavior of Lagrangian markers as they moved westward from the West Spitsbergen Current. It was found that two distinct mechanisms of marker movement exist: (1) one linked to fast transport by both currents and eddies and (2) another linked to slow translation by eddies. Fast markers are advected by the mean current or they skirt the peripheries of eddies aligned in a sort of a chain. The slow transport of the markers occurs when they are trapped by eddy cores. In this case, the markers move west either along with moving eddies or are passed from one eddy to another, making several turnovers around their cores. In the Fram Strait, the main transport corridors have been identified, which represent the most likely pathways for the markers to recirculate from the West Spitsbergen Current. The portioned arrival of the westward recirculating fast markers is associated with the episodic formation of a recirculation branch from the West Spitsbergen Current between 78.5°–79.5° N.