Arctic Ocean velocity and pilot velocity observations from Tethered Ocean Profilers
Abstract
Winds, sea ice motion, and ocean currents across a range of spatial and temporal scales are critical to the evolution of the ArcticOcean and sea ice cover. This research effort will ensure our ability to continue ocean velocity observations from expendable and autonomous ice-based profiling platforms. A pilot experiment will be performed using the 200 m version of the second-generation Ice-Tethered Profiler, termed the Tethered Ocean Profiler (TOP). Two TOP with velocity systems will be engineered, built, tested, and deployed. Observations are expected to be collected over a one year period with profiles from 1 m or less beneath the sea-ice cover to 200 m depth with several profiles per day. The resulting data will be processed and published, and subsequently analyzed from a scientific standpoint. The pilot observations will be used to optimize profiling schedules and fixed-depth observations used to directlyestimate turbulent heat, salt, and momentum fluxes between the ice and ocean. In addition, existing velocity observations from Ice-Tethered Profilers will be analyzed to understand the differential responses of the upper ocean and sea ice cover to observed storm events. The ability to continue observing and investigating Arctic Ocean velocity on intermittent, seasonal, and spatial scales willultimately lead to a better understanding of the Arctic air-ice-ocean system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 15, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312528
Entities
People
- Sylvia T. Cole
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution