Observations of Currents in the Arctic Ocean.
Abstract
An array of current meters was installed and operated for three months at Ice Island T-3, at 85 degrees N, 95 degrees W in the Arctic Ocean. Current meters were placed at three sites at 40m and 70m depths, with signal outputs all wired to a common recording system. The drift motion of T-3 can be eliminated from the records using frequent precise inertial currents, superimposed on lower frequency transient currents, which occur during intervals of rapid ice drift. The transient currents, at 40m in an upper layer veer to the right of the ice drift direction, while currents in the lower layer at 70m veer to the left. The observed ice drift and currents are consistent with the theory of elementary currents first advanced by Ekman, and with a recent theory by Pollard. The inertial currents have constant phase and amplitude which only change during intervals of ice displacement, suggesting the local generation of these currents in the upper levels of the ocean. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0738461
Entities
People
- Robert L. Bernstein
Organizations
- Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory