Water characteristics in puddles and open waters in the fast ice area and its influence to marine environment

Abstract

Summer environments in puddles and open waters formed in the fast ice area near Syowa Station, Antarctica were observed. Small open waters formed in the fast ice were filled with low saline water. Low saline water was supplied by melting sea ice and snow. If fast ice is not broken up by rough weather, melt water masses will stay stably in open water surrounded by fast ice. Consequently, this melt water will not dilute the surface sea water located under the fast ice. On the other hand, the water temperature of melt water was higher than underlying saline water. Especially, a maximum temperature of 4°C was observed in Hukuro Ura, Langhovde in late January 2005. Thus, structure of water temperature and salinity of summer open waters formed in the fast ice area have been rich in change.