Drivers of seasonal hydrography in Disko Bay, Greenland

A two-year observational record reveals that West Greenland Irminger Water (WGIW) drives seasonal hydrography in Disko Bay, Greenland, with episodic renewals influencing both the bay and Ilulissat Icefjord. WGIW crosses a topographic barrier annually, filling the basin and producing peak temperatures and density at depth during winter and spring, while Polar Water (PW) dominates summer and autumn dynamics. Strong upwelling-favourable winds further contribute to episodic renewals. The study highlights the advective pathways of warming signals along the bay's periphery, offering new insights into the region's oceanographic processes amid climate change.

Latuta, L., Smedsrud, L. H., Darelius, E., Hansen, P. J., & Willis, J. K. (2025). Drivers of seasonal hydrography in Disko Bay, Greenland. Ocean Science, 21(6), 3487–3505. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-3487-2025