Search

Menu
Search
in Ecology

Hydrodynamic response of an Antarctic glacial bay to cross-bay winds and its potential impact on primary production

69 Views


Abstract

Antarctic glacial bays are important, productive regions of the Southern Ocean. Certain glacial bays, including our research area, Admiralty Bay, are less favorable for phytoplankton growth due to wind-enhanced high energy levels, but they still host localized biological blooms. Westerly winds are predominant in Admiralty Bay; the strongest storms are from the east. These winds act perpendicular to the main axis of the bay. This study investigates the impact of cross-bay winds on the bay’s hydrodynamics and its potential effects on primary production. A hydrodynamic model, coupled with a Lagrangian model tracking potential iron sources, was run under seven wind scenarios. Results indicate that all winds reduce water column stratification, but energy increase rates and circulation pattern shifts vary with wind direction. Westerly winds restrict outflow and promote the formation of submesoscale eddies near inner inlet openings, concentrating water masses that are expected to be iron-rich, potentially stimulating phytoplankton growth. Conversely, easterly winds enhance outflow, flushing bay waters and likely negatively impacting productivity. Limited observational and satellite-derived biological data provide supportive evidence for the model-based hypothesis that the direction of cross-bay winds, rather than just their magnitude, significantly influences local productivity.

Data availability

The modelling setup files and results are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The observational data analyzed during the current study can be found in online repositories: PANGAEA – https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.947909; Zenodo – https://zenodo.org/records/10277429

References

  1. Ducklow, H. W. et al. Marine pelagic ecosystems: The West Antarctic Peninsula. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci.362, 67–94. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2006.1955 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  2. de Baar, H. J., Bathmannt, U., Smetacek, V., Löscher, B. M. & Veth, C. Importance of iron for plankton blooms and carbon dioxide drawdown in the Southern Ocean. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/373412a0 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Boyd, P. W., Arrigo, K. R., Strzepek, R. & van Dijken, G. L. Mapping phytoplankton iron utilization: Insights into Southern Ocean supply mechanisms. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JC007726 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Annett, A. L. et al. Comparative roles of upwelling and glacial iron sources in Ryder Bay, coastal western Antarctic Peninsula. Mar. Chem. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2015.06.017 (2015).

    Google Scholar 

  5. De Jong, J. et al. Natural iron fertilization of the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean by continental shelf sources of the Antarctic Peninsula. J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosci. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JG001679 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Jones, R. L. et al. Antarctic glaciers export carbon-stabilised iron(II)-rich particles to the surface Southern Ocean. Nat. Commun.16, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59981-y (2025).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Osińska, M. & Herman, A. Influence of glacial influx on the hydrodynamics of Admiralty Bay, Antarctica – study based on combined hydrographic measurements and numerical modeling. Front. Mar. Sci.11, 1365157. https://doi.org/10.3389/FMARS.2024.1365157 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Schloss, I. R. et al. On the phytoplankton bloom in coastal waters of southern King George Island (Antarctica) in January 2010: An exceptional feature?. Limnol. Oceanogr.59, 195–210. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2014.59.1.0195 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Höfer, J. et al. The role of water column stability and wind mixing in the production/export dynamics of two bays in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Progr. Oceanogr.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2019.01.005 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zhao, K. X., Stewart, A. L., McWilliams, J. C., Fenty, I. G. & Rignot, E. J. Standing eddies in glacial Fjords and their role in Fjord circulation and melt. J. Phys. Oceanogr.53, 821–840. https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-22-0085.1 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Neder, C. et al. Modelling suspended particulate matter dynamics at an Antarctic fjord impacted by glacier melt. J. Mar. Syst.231, 103734. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JMARSYS.2022.103734 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sandulescu, M., López, C., Hernández-García, E. & Feudel, U. Plankton blooms in vortices: The role of biological and hydrodynamic timescales. Nonlinear Process. Geophys. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-14-443-2007 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cushman-Roisin, B., Asplin, L. & Svendsen, H. Upwelling in broad fjords. Continental Shelf Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(94)90044-2 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lundesgaard, Ø., Powell, B., Merrifield, M., Hahn-Woernle, L. & Winsor, P. Response of an Antarctic Peninsula Fjord to Summer Katabatic Wind Events. J. Phys. Oceanogr.49, 1485–1502. https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-18-0119.1 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Davison, B. J., Hogg, A. E., Moffat, C., Meredith, M. P. & Wallis, B. J. Widespread increase in discharge from west Antarctic Peninsula glaciers since 2018. Cryosphere18, 3237–3251. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3237-2024 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rakusa-Suszczewski, S. The past and present of King George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Polish Polar Res.19, 249–252 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wasiłowska, A., Tatur, A. & Rzepecki, M. Massive diatom bloom initiated by high winter sea ice in Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetlands) in relation to nutrient concentrations in the water column during the 2009/2010 summer. J. Mar. Syst.226, 103667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2021.103667 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kanamitsu, M. et al. NCEP-DOE AMIP-II reanalysis (R-2). Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-83-11-1631 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gerrish, L., Fretwell, P. & Cooper, P. High resolution vector polylines of the Antarctic coastline (7.4) [Data set]. Tech. Rep., UK Polar Data Centre. Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation https://doi.org/10.5285/e46be5bc-ef8e-4fd5-967b-92863fbe2835 (2021).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Powers, J. G. et al. Real-time mesoscale modeling over Antarctica: The Antarctic mesoscale prediction system. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-84-11-1533 (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wójcik-Długoborska, K. A., Osińska, M. & Bialik, R. J. The impact of glacial suspension color on the relationship between its properties and marine water spectral reflectance. IEEE J. Sel. Topics Appl. Earth Observ. Remote Sens. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2022.3166398 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sierpinski, S., Baquer, L. M., Martins, C. C. & Grassi, M. T. Exploratory evaluation of iron and its speciation in surface waters of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202320211520 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Klunder, M. B., Laan, P., Middag, R., Baar, H. J. D. & van Ooijen, J. C. Dissolved iron in the Southern Ocean (Atlantic sector). Deep Sea Res. Part II58, 2678–2694. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.DSR2.2010.10.042 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Brandini, F. P. & Rebello, J. Wind field effect on hydrography and chlorophyll dynamics in the coastal pelagial of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Sci. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102094000672 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Plenzler, J., Budzik, T., Puczko, D. & Bialik, R. J. Climatic conditions at arctowski station (king george island, west antarctica) in 2013–2017 against the background of regional changes. Polish Polar Res.40, 1–27, 10.24425/PPR.2019.126345 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  26. National Snow and Ice Data Center & CIRES. Sea Ice Index (2023).

  27. Turner, J. et al. Strong wind events in the Antarctic. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD011642 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Swart, N. C. & Fyfe, J. C. Observed and simulated changes in the Southern Hemisphere surface westerly wind-stress. Geophys. Res. Lett. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL052810 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Osińska, M., Wójcik-Długoborska, K. A. & Bialik, R. J. Annual hydrographic variability in Antarctic coastal waters infused with glacial inflow. Earth Syst. Sci. Data15, 607–616. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-607-2023 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  30. IOC, SCOR & IAPSO. The international thermodynamic equation of seawater – 2010: Calculation and use of thermodynamic properties. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Manuals and Guides No. 56 (2010).

  31. Monsen, N. E., Cloern, J. E., Lucas, L. V. & Monismith, S. G. A comment on the use of flushing time, residence time, and age as transport time scales. Limnol. Oceanogr. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2002.47.5.1545 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Castelao, R. M., Dinniman, M. S., Amos, C. M., Klinck, J. M. & Medeiros, P. M. Eddy-Driven Transport of Particulate Organic Carbon-Rich Coastal Water Off the West Antarctic Peninsula. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016791 (2021).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kahru, M., Mitchell, B. G., Gille, S. T., Hewes, C. D. & Holm-Hansen, O. Eddies enhance biological production in the Weddell-Scotia Confluence of the Southern Ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GL030430 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Huot, Y. et al. Does chlorophyll a provide the best index of phytoplankton biomass for primary productivity studies? Biogeosciences Discussions (2007).

  35. (CMEMS), E. C. M. S. I. Global ocean colour (copernicus-globcolour), bio-geo-chemical, l4 (monthly and interpolated) from satellite observations (1997-ongoing). https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00281.

  36. Lipski, M. Variations of physical conditions, nutrients and chlorophyll a contents in Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland islands, 1979). Polish Polar Res.8, 307–332 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Schloss, I. R. et al. Response of phytoplankton dynamics to 19-year (1991–2009) climate trends in Potter Cove (Antarctica). J. Mar. Syst.92, 53–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2011.10.006 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Deltares. Delft3D 3D/2D modelling suite for integral water solutions Hydro-Morphodynamics (2020).

  39. Deltares. D-WAQ PART – User Manual (2024).

  40. Pope, S. B. Turbulent Flows (Cambridge University Press, 2000).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Neumann, D., Callies, U. & Matthies, M. Marine litter ensemble transport simulations in the southern North Sea. Mar. Pollut. Bull.86, 219–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MARPOLBUL.2014.07.016 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  42. McDougall, P., Trevor J. ; Barker. Getting started with TEOS-10 and the Gibbs Seawater (GSW) Oceanographic Toolbox. Scor/Iapso Wg127 (2011).

  43. Chelton, D. B. et al. Geographical variability of the first baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation. J. Phys. Oceanogr.28, 433–460 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Olbers, D., Willebrand, J. & Eden, C. Ocean dynamics Vol. 9783642234507 (Springer, 2012).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Padman, L., Fricker, H. A., Coleman, R., Howard, S. & Erofeeva, L. A new tide model for the Antarctic ice shelves and seas. Ann. Glaciol.34, 247–254. https://doi.org/10.3189/172756402781817752 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Dotto, T. S., Mata, M. M., Kerr, R. & Garcia, C. A. A novel hydrographic gridded data set for the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Earth Syst. Sci. Data13, 671–696. https://doi.org/10.5194/ESSD-13-671-2021 (2021).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are owed to Laboratory of Sedimentary and Environmental Processes – INCT-Criosfera Fluminense Federal University – Geoscience Institute in Brazil for providing us with bathymetric data from Admiralty Bay. We thank the publishers of all open-source data used in the setup of this model: the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Byrd Polar Research Center of The Ohio State University for providing AMPS modelled wind data, and NOAA for compiling observational wind data for validation; Earth and Space Research for producing the CATS2008 tides model45; and Ref. 46 for sharing gridded temperature and salinity reanalysis data. We thank Deltares for making the Delft3D Flow model available for calculations and CI TASK (Center of the Tri-City Academic Computer Network) in Gdańsk, Poland, which offered computing power and software to enable calculations. We thank Daniel Pereira for creating the Wind-Rose MATLAB add-on utilized in this paper. We would also like to thank the Editor and the three anonymous Reviewers for their constructive comments and insightful suggestions, which significantly improved the clarity and quality of this manuscript. Finally, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the various members of the Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station crew for their assistance with observations and measurements.

Funding

This research was funded by two grants from the National Science Centre in Poland: No. 2017/25/B/ST10/02092 ’Quantitative assessment of sediment transport from glaciers of South Shetland Islands on the basis of selected remote sensing methods’ and No. 2018/31/B/ST10/00195 ’Observations and modeling of sea ice interactions with the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers’.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Gdańsk, Jana Bażyńskiego 8, 80-309, Gdańsk, Poland

    Maria Osińska

  2. Institute of Oceanology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712, Sopot, Poland

    Maria Osińska & Agnieszka Herman

Authors

  1. Maria Osińska
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Agnieszka Herman
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

M.O. Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft; AH: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Writing – review and editing

Corresponding author

Correspondence to
Maria Osińska.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Information 1.

Supplementary Information 2.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Osińska, M., Herman, A. Hydrodynamic response of an Antarctic glacial bay to cross-bay winds and its potential impact on primary production.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34031-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34031-1

Keywords

  • Admiralty Bay
  • Southern Ocean
  • Numerical modelling
  • Physical oceanography
  • West Antarctic Peninsula
  • GMW

Supplementary Information 2.

Source: Ecology - nature.com

Spatial Distribution Dataset of All Constructive Grass Species in Tibetan Grasslands under 2024 and 2060

Field-ready DNA extraction from scat using magnetic nanoparticles for non-invasive wildlife monitoring

This portal is not a newspaper as it is updated without periodicity. It cannot be considered an editorial product pursuant to law n. 62 of 7.03.2001. The author of the portal is not responsible for the content of comments to posts, the content of the linked sites. Some texts or images included in this portal are taken from the internet and, therefore, considered to be in the public domain; if their publication is violated, the copyright will be promptly communicated via e-mail. They will be immediately removed.

Back to Top
Close