Irminger Water variability in the West Greenland Current

We examine the historical variability of Irminger Water ( IW) along 3 sections across the West Greenland Current over 1950 - 2005. Significant variability in the salinity, size and position of the IW core are seen over time. Some of the saltiest and warmest IW ever recorded have been seen since 1995 ( comparable to previous maximums in the 1960s). During these periods, the volume of IW is also larger, leading to larger transports into the Labrador Sea. For the period 1984 - 2005 transports at Cape Farewell are 3.8 +/- 0.9 Sv, 7.5 +/- 2.2 x 10(13) J and 8.5 +/- 1.8 mSv of salt referenced to 35.0. LSW formation is also correlated to IW transport at Cape Farewell with a lag of one year ( 0.51).