Anthropogenic Iodine-129 Traces Complex Inflows of Atlantic and Pacific Waters Into the Western Arctic

Abstract

Changes in Atlantic and Pacific inflows into the Arctic are contributing to Arctic warming and reshaping water circulation. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding circulation pathways in the western Arctic Ocean, where Arctic Atlantic Water (AAW) and Pacific Water interact. Here, we report iodine-129 (¹²⁹I) concentrations in seawater collected from the western Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea in 2021. The wide range of ¹²⁹I concentrations (1–355 × 10⁷ atoms/L) highlights its value as a tracer for identifying water masses and deciphering circulation patterns. Depth profiles of ¹²⁹I reveal that AAW enters the western Arctic via multiple pathways, with the top layer potentially diverging from the boundary flow and dispersing throughout the region. This previously unreported feature suggests a broader AAW influence on the western Arctic. Additionally, ¹²⁹I concentrations provide direct evidence that the cold halocline effectively limits the upward transfer of matter from AAW to the Arctic surface.