Descriptions:
The transpolar drift (purple arrows) is a dominant circulation feature in the Arctic Ocean that carries freshwater runoff (red arrows) from rivers in Russia across the North Pole and south towards Greenland. Under changing atmospheric conditions, emergent circulation patterns (blue arrows) drive freshwater runoff east towards Canada, resulting in freshening of Arctic water in the Canada Basin. Understanding this more complex pathway will help scientists make better predictions about the Arctic’s response to climate change. The findings appear in the Jan. 5 issue of the journal Nature. A link to the press release is here: https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/earth20120104.html