Researchers: Igor Polyakov
Claude Belzile
Yihua Cai
Laodong Guo
Vladimir Ivanov
Michiyo Kawai
Gleb Pantaleev
Jia Wang
Jingfeng Wu
Sheng Zhang
Xiangdong Zhang
Funding Source: JAMSTEC
Collaborators: Carmack, E. and R. Macdonald, IOS, BC Canada
Dempsey, M., Oceanetic, BC, Canada
Dickson, R., CEFAS, UK
Doronin, N., Ecoshelf, St. Petersburg, Russia
Douglas, T., USACE, Fairbanks
Fortier, L. and M. Ringguette, Laval Univ., Canada
Gascard, J.-C., LODYC, France
Guéguen, C., UBC, Canada
Gustafsson, O., University of Stockholm, Sweden
Haas, C., E. Fahrbach, U. Schauer, A. Beszczynska, and M. Karcher, AWI,
Bremerhaven, Germany
Hansen, E. and J. Holfort, NPI, Norway
Johnson, M., C.-L. Ping, and D. White, UAF, USA
Jorgenson, T., ABR Inc, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Maistrukov, S., SRNHI, St. Petersburg, Russia
Moritzen, C., NMO, Norway
Nechaev, D., SSC/USM, USA
Rigor, I., UW, Seattle, USA
Skagseth, O., GFI/UIB, Norway
Steele, M., J. Morison, and R. Woodgate, APL/UW
Timokhov, L., AARI, St. Petersburg, Russia
Walsh, D., NRL, Stennis Space Center, USA
Walsh, J., I. Dmitrenko, N. Tanaka, I. Semiletov, and R. Chadwell, IARC, UAF, USA
Yaremchuk, M., N. Maximenko, IPRC, USA
The Arctic Ocean is a vast and mysterious frontier that helps shape the global climate. In order to better understand this important region of our planet, observational studies become highly important for obtaining data for process studies and modeling experiments. Thus, a combination of modeling and observational research is important for reducing the uncertainty in climate studies. By collaborating with others at IARC and in the global research community, the Arctic Ocean Models and Observations Group is investigating the following five areas:
A data assimilation system based on ocean circulation models is being developed and was applied to the analysis of Bering Sea circulation and the Tsushima Strait region of the Arctic Ocean\ . The result of this system is a means for determining realistic circulation in the central and northern areas of the Bering Sea, which can be used for monitoring purposes in the regio\ n.
Chemical tracers, oxygen isotope ratio, and pH were used to distinguish freshwater sources in arctic seawater from data obtained through the Mirai cruises and from historical archives. Freshwater sources were analyzed including runoff from Canadian and Russian rivers, precipitation, and melting sea-ice. The study shows that the Russian runoff and Bering Sea water with less salinity are the main source of freshwater into the Arctic Ocean.
The Arctic Ocean is a freshwater reservoir; and the level of freshwater in this region has implications for global climate changes. Some global circulation patterns such as North Atlantic deep convection may be affected by changes in the freshwater balance of the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Oscillation (AO) is a climate pattern defined by wind circulation at high latitudes. There are two phases to the AO, negative and positive. During the positive phase, the frigid temperatures are somewhat contained, and countries in the North Atlantic region experience a warmer climate. In the negative phase, the cold arctic air and currents spill out into the mid-latitudes and bring colder temperatures to the area. Research at IARC has found that the freshwater balance of the Arctic Ocean is associated with the phase shift of the AO. This group is investigating changes of the basin-wide Arctic freshwater storage and its exports by using a modeling approach.
The IARC Arctic Ocean observation groups, NABOS/CABOS, officially became a part of the SEARCH* (U.S.) program. In anticipation of the International Polar Year, the program has made contributions to the SEARCH and Damocles efforts. The international nature of the program was strengthened by these connections. More information on the NABOS/CABOS project is available here: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/NABOS/.
How biogeochemical processes within arctic marine and terrestrial systems are altered under warming conditions and a changing environment is a concern for another study in this group. Specifically, they are looking at how geochemical species, such as organic matter, can be used as a tracer towards a better understanding of hydrological and permafrost active layer dynamics and climate change in the arctic region. Observational data was gathered from the Yukon, Mackenzie, and Sagavanirktok Rivers as well as the East Siberian arctic coast. This study will help provide critical understanding of carbon dynamics and biogeochemical processes, which are needed for modeling and prediction analysis.
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SEARCH - Study of Environmental Arctic Change