SEARCH Projects

NOAA SEARCH Element 10: Oceanic Observations of Climate Change in the Arctic-Subpolar Zone

Peter Rhines Charles Erickson Institution: University of Washington, School of Oceanography

Abstract

This is a new multi-year project to provide observations of water masses and fluxes of water, salt, heat, ice and tracers between the Arctic Ocean and the sub-Arctic Seas. The goal is to provide understanding of the changing state of the Arctic and anticipate its future. The logistic issues are severe and require innovative observational platforms as proposed here. The project will utilize sea-gliders and ice-hardened moorings to provide the physical data. A retrospective analysis of existing tracer data will provide context for the new data.