Impacts of Weddell Gyre freshwater exports

This Weddell Sea freshwater budget assessment: - has generated a huge quantity of seawater δ18O data in a region noted for its limited spatial and temporal data coverage. This single project has increased seawater δ18O data for the Weddell Gyre in the public domain by ~40%. - generates a point of reference assessment of the freshwater system in the Weddell Gyre, from which seasonal / inter-annual variability and long-term change can be compared and evaluated in the future. - provides benchmark budget figure to which the global research community can compare model outputs and measurement-based freshwater assessments. - highlights sensitivity of freshwater system in the Weddell Gyre region to underlying deep water circulation.