Tritium distributions in Weddell Sea water masses
During the 1975 and 1976 International Weddell Sea Oceanographic Expeditions, samples were collected for analysis by the Mount Soledad Tritium Laboratory. Most samples were of near-bottom water in the western and northern Weddell Sea. Some samples were also collected of Warm Deep Water, Winter Water, and surface water. Highest tritium concentrations in bottom water were found in the northern Weddell Sea and along the western continental shelf. This indicates that the most recently formed bottom water is in these areas. In the central Weddell Sea, concentrations were lower, indicating slower renewal of bottom water. An upper limit of 3.5 million cu m/sec is obtained for the formation rate of Weddell Sea Bottom Water. This yields a production rate of about 7 million cu m/sec for classical Antarctic Bottom Water. Surface water and Winter Water also showed a strong gradient in tritium concentrations between the central Weddell Sea and the continental shelf.
- Research Organization:
- California, University, San Diego, Calif.
- OSTI ID:
- 6233015
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 83; ISSN JGREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
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Carbonate chemistry of the Weddell Sea
Related Subjects
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Water-- (1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DENSITY
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HEAVY WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INDIAN OCEAN
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC OCEAN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLAR REGIONS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
SEA BED
SEAS
SEAWATER
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE WATERS
TRITIUM
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES