Long-term oceanic observatories (moorings) in the Beaufort Sea during the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study, 2002-2004

• Main Authors: Gratton, Yves, Ingram, Grant, Blondeau, Sylvain, Carmack, Eddy, Forest, Alexandre, Fortier, Louis, Hardenberg, Bon Van, Massot, Pascal, Michaud, Luc
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Cryospheric Information Network 2013
• Subjects: Amundsen Gulf; Beaufort Sea; Density; Fluxes; Mackenzie Shelf; Monitoring; Ocean currents; Salinity; Temperature; Water column; Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study; Arctic; Canada; Cape Bathurst; ArcticNet; canada basin; Franklin Bay; Global warming
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5884/11653; https://www.polardata.ca/pdcsearch/?doi_id=11653

Eight moorings were deployed in the Beaufort Sea during autumn 2002 and were recovered in autumn 2003. In autumn 2003, 16 moorings were deployed and recovered in autumn 2004. Mooring sites included: Mackenzie Shelf (North-Western to North-Eastern), Mackenzie Shelf slope, Kugmallit Valley, Canada Basin, Mackenzie Canyon, Amundsen Gulf (West to East), and Franklin Bay/cape Bathurst area. Bottom depth of deployment sites varied between 63 and 1234 m. Mooring lines were equipped with various oceanographic instruments attached at different depths from 27 m to a maximum of 1234 m. Moored instruments included ALEC conductivity-temperature-turbidity-chlorophyll-PAR sensors, SeaBird SB37 conductivity-temperature sensors, RMC7 and RCM11 current meters, WH-ADCP (300kHz) current profilers, and NIPR and Technicap sediment traps. The datasets available were quality controlled, and have been used in several publications. Variables available include water temperature, conductivity (salinity), density, PAR, Chla, turbidity, oxygen and current velocity (speed and direction). Sediment trap collections were used to estimate downward fluxes of particles, and datasets are described in Metadata CCIN 1076 (Vertical particle flux data in the Beaufort Sea: 2002-2010). Data are also available at the Institute of Ocean Sciences (DFO-Canada). : Purpose: To monitor changes in physical, biological and geochemical properties of the Canadian Arctic waters, ocean observatories (moorings) were deployed in the Beaufort Sea as part of the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES), and continued after 2004 as part of the ArcticNet program. These moorings are the oceanic equivalent of atmospheric meteorological stations. The data are used to describe the seasonal and annual variations in the Arctic environment and its local ecosystems. This, in turn, enables us to understand how, and how quickly, global warming is affecting the Arctic. : Summary: Not Applicable