Tritium distributions in Weddell Sea water masses

Journal Article · Wed Dec 20 00:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC083iC12p06192· OSTI ID:6233015

Michel, R L

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), Vol. 83
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
SEAWATER
TRITIUM
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DENSITY
DEPTH
HEAVY WATER
INDIAN OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
SEA BED
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
DIMENSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLAR REGIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
520301* - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Water- (1987)