Zlodzenie Zatoki Admiralicji a temperatura wody w energoaktywnej strefie Morza Bellingshausena (1982-1997)

Correlations, especially those on a regional scale, between the sea ice cover formation and the air and sea surface temperatures have been pointed out by a number of authors. Region that is clearly marked by such correlation is located NW of the Antarctic Peninsula (among others Weatherly and others, King 1994, Styszyńska 1997, 2000). The intensity of ice formation in the relatively small Admiralty Bay noted in a given winter season indicates strong correlation with the winter sea ice cover extent in a regional scale (Kruszew-ski 1999, 2000). This ice cover is influenced (among others) by the sea surface temperature. The possible nature of the correlation between the sea surface temperature (SST) at the meridian of 080°W and the changes in air temperature in the region of the Southern Shetlands as described by Styszyńska suggested the presence of similar correlations with the intensity of ice formation in that region, so in this way also in the Admiralty Bay. With the help of Spearmann correlation coefficient a number of statistically significant relations have been found between the course of SST in the region of 086-062°W and the intensity of ice formation in the Admiralty Bay are presented in a categorised way. These relations are both synchronic and asynchronic. The synchronic correlation is observed mainly between SST in winter months and the ice cover category in the same year (the increase in SST is followed by the decrease in ice cover category).These correlations are most significant in the region 62-66°S (July - September). They also occur farther north 56-58°S but this time in the eastern part of the said region (March-July) and they are also observed in 60-64° (but in January and February). The asynchronic correlations have been observed between SST in October and ice cover category of the Admiralty Bay in the following year(8-11month slater). These correlations are most significantly marked in 56-64°S (the northern part of the Bellingshausen Sea and in the Circumpolar Current region) especially in 60°S 080°W (r = -0.677, p < 0.01) and their character is similar to those of the previously mentioned synchronic correlations.