Freshwater fluxes through the western Fram Strait

Two hydrographic and delta O-18 transects across Fram Strait (Aug-Sept 1997 , 1998) are used to examine freshwater contributions to the East Greenland Current (EGC). The EGC featured up to similar to 16% meteoric water in both years, but was made comparatively more saline through the formation of up to similar to 11 m of sea ice. We derive meteoric water fluxes of similar t o 3680 km(3)yr(-1) in Aug-Sept 1997, and similar to 2000 km(3)yr(-1) in Aug -Sept 1998. The 1997 and 1998 data show a long-term mean sea ice flux throu gh Fram Strait around half the long-term mean meteoric water flux. A 1991 d elta O-18 section [Bauch et al., 1995] yielded a very similar ratio. Our 19 98 section reveals fresh, low-delta O-18 Water On the East Greenland shelf whose comparatively large volume constitutes a potentially significant cont ribution to the total freshwater flux through Fram Strait. Such fluxes are important to the regional and global thermohaline circulation; we suggest t hat efforts towards monitoring both the EGC and East Greenland shelf waters are thus required.