ON THE GENERATION OF THE NORTHEAST WATER POLYNYA

In spring and summer of 1993 a multidisciplinary survey of the Northea st Water (NEW) Polynya, located on the continental shelf northeast of Greenland, was undertaken by R/V Polarstern. Hydrographic and remotely sensed data from this expedition are analyzed with respect to the gen eration and the seasonal development of the NEW. Its formation is conc luded to result from the combined effect of a fast ice barrier, extend ing perpendicular from the coast and bridging a trough system, and a n orthward flowing coastal current. The fast ice barrier protects the re gion downstream of it from ice import while current driven ice export continues. The temporal development and spatial distribution of hydrog raphic parameters in the NEW is primarily controlled by its generation mechanism. Continental and sea ice melt induce vertical stability in certain parts of the polynya, giving rise to enhanced primary producti on there.