Atlantic Water Circulation and Properties Northwest of Svalbard During Anomalous Southerly Winds

Atlantic Water (AW), the main source of heat and salt for Arctic Ocean, undergoes large transformations (cooling freshening) north Svalbard as it flows near surface above Yermak Plateau (YP). In September 2017, a SeaExplorer ocean glider deployed in West Spitsbergen Current (WSC) recovered documented circulation properties AW crossing YP. The sampled different branches flowing into around YP: WSC, Branch (SB), Pass Branch, Branch. Unusual southerly winds prevailed summer 2017 impacting region. Cold fresh lenses shelf-origin waters detached from slope WSC to reach their density level below core AW. This resulted cooling freshening inflow below. eastward current associated with SB was found be weak at its usual location 400 m isobath, likely result adjustment flow influenced by anomalous wind conditions.