Vertical Structure of Currents in the Western Weddell Sea

Abstract—The Southern Ocean plays a key role in the global circulation of the World Ocean. The Weddell Gyre, being one of the two gyres that determine the large-scale dynamics of the Southern Ocean, makes a significant contribution to the global thermohaline circulation. In this regard, the study of the dynamics and structure of waters in the Weddell Sea is very relevant for improving our understanding of the processes occurring in the World Ocean. In this work, the vertical structure of currents on the slope in the western part of the Weddell Sea (northwestern and southern parts) was studied based on an array of data on current velocities from moorings collected from an open source (Pangaea). The main result of the analysis of mean velocity of currents is the intensification of currents in the bottom layer. It is likely that this effect is a characteristic feature of the Weddell Gyre both in its western and southern branches. An increase in velocities in the bottom layer at individual moorings at separate locations, previously noted in publications, was confirmed and shown based on an array of data on current velocities from 108 sensors at 37 moorings on the continental slope in the northwestern and southern parts of the Weddell Sea.