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About OAII |
Knut Aagaard
University of Washington
Start Date: April 1, 1994
Expires: September 30, 1996 (Estimated)
Expected Total Amt.: $140,546 (Estimated)
Fld Science: Physical & Chemical Oceanography
Abstract:
Aagaard Research conducted by this award is a component of the 1994 U.S./Canada Arctic Ocean Section (AOS). The AOS is a collaborative effort with Canada that involves approximately 60 scientists participating on a Canadian and a U.S. icebreaker during a 55-day field program in the summer of 1994. The AOS is under the auspices of the Arctic Systems Science (ARCSS) Global Change Research Program and research is jointly sponsored by the Division of Ocean Sciences, the Office of Polar Programs and Office of Naval Research (ONR). Data collected should be relevant to improving our understanding of how the Arctic is an indicator of changing global climate conditions and how it affects the physical, chemical, and biological features of the more temperate oceans and regions. This specific research project encompasses part of the hydrography program. Precision temperature, conductivity, oxygen, and nutrient profiles will be collected at intervals along the cruise track. Resulting data will be analyzed to increase understanding of the structure and circulation of the Arctic Ocean. Research will focus on three areas: 1) the structure of the halocine, wherein density differences between masses of seawater may drive the circulation and mixing of deep Arctic Ocean water with water from other parts of the world's oceans; 2) seawater properties and gradients near major seafloor features, and 3) the horizontal and vertical structure of the water column below 1500 meters.