ON THE HYDROGRAPHY OF THE NORTHEAST WATER POLYNYA

The water masses and circulation in the area of the Northeast Water Po lynya, located on the East Greenland Shelf north of 79 degrees N, are described on the basis of an R/V Polarstern cruise during spring and s ummer 1993. The baroclinic flow shows northward components close to th e East Greenland coast and eastward components at the northern limit o f the polynya. An anticyclonic half circle is formed by this and the s outhward flowing East Greenland Current. In the south the circle is no t closed. The upper water column, occupied by Polar Water, is affected by this circulation pattern, while deeper waters in the trough system of the area seem to spread independently. Different types of deep wat ers are found in different troughs, all being of Atlantic origin, thou gh they seem not to be directly connected to Return Atlantic Water. It is shown that what is called Polar Water must be formed, at least par tly, on the Greenland Shelf and that deepwater formation does not occu r in the investigated area.