A simple model of ocean dynamics in Nares Strait

The Canadian Arctic Archipelago is one of the two major oceanic gateways between the Arctic and the Atlantic Ocean. It has been estimated that the flow through this region currently accounts for about half of the freshwater transport between these two oceanic basins, its importance potentially increasing with increased melting of sea ice. However, factors such as its complex morphology, harsh meteorological conditions, the remote location and an almost continuous presence of sea ice form a hindrance to understanding the dynamics that force the flow through this region. In contrast to previous efforts which all used realistic model configurations, the approach in this study is one of a simple straight channel representing Nares Strait in a 3D primitive equation model. This enables us to disentangle and quantify the effects of barotropic forcing, baroclinic forcing, wind stress, ice cover and tides acting to drive or reduce the throughflow or alter its cross-strait structure.