Fram Strait
The Fram Strait is a crucial passage situated between Greenland and the Svalbard archipelago, stretching approximately from 77°N to 81°N latitudes. It serves as the only deep-water connection between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, making it a significant location for oceanographic and climatic studies.
Geographic Features
The strait is bordered by Greenland to the west and the island of Spitsbergen, part of the Svalbard archipelago, to the east. Its width is approximately 450 kilometers, but due to the wide continental shelves of Greenland and Spitsbergen, the deep portion of the strait is only about 300 kilometers wide. The depth of the sill connecting the Arctic and Fram Strait is 2545 meters.
The Knipovich Ridge, the northernmost section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, extends northward through the strait to connect to the Nansen-Gakkel Ridge of the Arctic Ocean. This ridge is accompanied by a rift valley, a result of seafloor spreading, running adjacent and parallel to it.
Oceanographic Significance
Fram Strait is unique as it is the northernmost ocean area that remains ice-free throughout the year. This is largely attributed to the influence of two dominant ocean currents: the West Spitsbergen Current on the eastern side, bringing warmer Atlantic waters into the Arctic Ocean, and the East Greenland Current on the western side, carrying cold, low-salinity waters southward from the Arctic Ocean.
These currents contribute to the complex oceanographic and climatic interactions within the strait. The exchange of water between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans through the Fram Strait plays a vital role in global thermohaline circulation, also known as the "global conveyor belt."
Ecological Impact
Historically, Fram Strait was abundant with Bowhead whales, known as the Greenland right whale. However, by the mid-17th century, extensive whaling activities, particularly around Smeerenburg, led to the near extinction of this population. The ecological history of the strait highlights the impact of human activities on marine life.
Molloy Deep
Within the Fram Strait lies the Molloy Deep, also known as the Molloy Hole. It is a bathymetric feature within the Greenland Sea east of Greenland. The Molloy Deep is the deepest point of the Arctic Ocean, reaching depths of approximately 5,550 meters (18,210 feet). This feature is a key area for scientific research due to its unique geological and oceanographic properties.