NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Tags: physical sciences, glaciology, prediction models, oceanography, sea ice

Objective(s): To understand the physical environment and processes of the Arctic Ocean and develop integrated air–ice–ocean–wave models for improved prediction.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are to: continue observations of the Arctic Ocean environment; understand the physical environment and processes; and develop integrated air–ice–ocean–wave models for improved prediction. The University of Washington is conducting marine scientific research to study the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) in the Beaufort Sea approximately 200 nautical miles west of Sachs Harbour in International Waters. Observations will be done through the deployment of oceanographic research instrumentation (e.g., buoys, profilers, weather stations) that will drift with the sea ice through the Beaufort Sea towards Alaska. The instrumentation will be deployed approximately three months prior to initial MIZ formation over the Alaskan shelf and slope (around 1 July). The observational MIZ site stretches northward approximately 500 km from the Alaska slope, roughly 70°–75°N at 140°W. Timing mismatch between ice-based deployments and MIZ formation (early summer) suggests that the array will undergo three months of westerly drift and deformation drift prior to the MIZ observing period. To allow for this drift the ice-based arrays must be deployed at a target site upstream of the MIZ observational site. To maximize the possibility that the desired instrument configuration is in position the research team have calculated the expected ice drift using several different data products and models. Results point to a deployment line stretching from 71°–75°N at 135°W in March. The results of this study will be communicated through peer reviewed journals. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from February 26, 2014 to March 31, 2014.