The 1994 Arctic Ocean Section. The First Major Scientific Crossing of the Arctic Ocean,
Abstract
Traditionally both Canada and the United States have relied on aircraft and drifting ice camps in supporting scientific work in the Arctic Ocean. Early examples include the so-called Ski Jump project in 1951-1952 and the ice stations Alpha and Bravo in 1957. These efforts have been particularly successful in advancing process studies, obtaining certain time series measurements and exploring limited areas; they have been less successful in carrying out synoptic survey work and sophisticated geographically distributed measurements requiring heavy equipment and elaborate laboratory facilities. In the open ocean the latter are typically done from shipboard, but not until 1987, when the German research icebreaker Polarstern crossed the Nansen Basin of the Arctic Ocean, did a modern Western research vessel successfully operate in the Polar Basin. Cooperation was necessaty to bring the scientific, operational and funding mechanisms together. Over five years of planning culminated on the evening of 24 July 1994 when the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent and the USCGC Polar Sea steamed northward from Nome, Alaska, when 70 scientists embarked with their scientific equipment on what was planned to be a 60-day expedition. The expedition could not have happened without enthusiasm. There was scientific enthusiasm for addressing an important and timely research topic. Also there was enthusiasm within the Coast Guards of the two nations for undertaking a maritime expedition in the Arctic Ocean that was to be the first of its type for North America.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA322259
Entities
People
- David M. Cate
- Walter Tucker
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory