THE NORTH-EAST WATER POLYNYA (GREENLAND SEA) .1. A PHYSICAL CONCEPT OF ITS GENERATION

Physical observations of the North East Water (NEW) polynya, located n ear the north-eastern corner of Greenland, are presented. Data were co llected in June 1991 by RV Polarstern. An idea is put forward to expla in how the NEW is generated. A northward coastal current interacts wit h a persistent shelf ice barrier under which water can flow but that r etains ice floes and therefore protects the NEW area from ice advectio n. Since in summer, the combination of currents, barrier and air-sea h eat balance gives rise to a polynya. The distribution of upper water c olumn vertical stability in the NEW is also influenced by its generati on process. Surface melt water is retained by the shelf ice barrier, c ausing neutral vertical stability in its lee. Sea ice melting and land runoff then act as two distinct sources of vertical stability enablin g the development of plankton blooms, especially in the northern part of the NEW.