OUR LINKS HAVE CHANGED!

SUMMARY

Spectacular changes have occurred in the Arctic region over the last few decades. Extreme amplification of the polar vortex and warm air temperatures have resulted in retreat of the arctic pack ice and caused major changes in the Arctic Ocean. Despite progress in understanding circulation and water mass transformations in the polar basins and their link to the external climate system, there remain major uncertainties regarding the processes and mechanisms at work. The lack of observational data places a major constraint on our ability to understand these processes. Long-term observations in the Arctic Ocean have historically been scarce, yet such measurements are critical to understanding Arctic Ocean water mass structure and variability over short and long time-scales, and predicting the future evolution of the Arctic environment.

Recognizing the importance of comprehensive study of the Arctic as a part of the world climate system and desiring to contribute to establishing a broad arctic monitoring system, IARC initiated an observational program in the Nansen and Amundsen (NABOS) and Canadian (CABOS) basins of the Arctic Ocean. The key element of the field program is a set of moorings to be deployed along the shelf slope of the basins, where major transports of water, heat, and salt occur (Figure). The overall purpose of the observational program is to provide a quantitative, observationally based assessment of circulation, water mass transformation, and their mechanisms in the Arctic Ocean. We recognize that such a program is beyond the resources of any single research institute, and thus participation of the international scientific community at every stage of the project is crucial to the success of the program. Within NABOS/CABOS IARC has already established close cooperations with various international institutions and organizations (Figure).

Last modified: March 08, 2004. 13:02:43 pm