Irminger Water variability in the West Greenland Current

Abstract

We examine the historical variability of Irminger Water (IW) along 3 sections across the West Greenland Current over 1950–2005. Significant variability in the salinity, size and position of the IW core are seen over time. Some of the saltiest and warmest IW ever recorded have been seen since 1995 (comparable to previous maximums in the 1960s). During these periods, the volume of IW is also larger, leading to larger transports into the Labrador Sea. For the period 1984–2005 transports at Cape Farewell are 3.8 ± 0.9 Sv, 7.5 ± 2.2 × 10 13 J and 8.5 ± 1.8 mSv of salt referenced to 35.0. LSW formation is also correlated to IW transport at Cape Farewell with a lag of one year (0.51).