Microstructure casts during AIWEX : a summary

• Main Authors: Dillon, T. M. (Thomas M.), Brown, Michael D., Garrow, Holly C.
• Other Authors: College of Oceanography
• Format: Report
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: Corvallis, Or. : College of Oceanography, Oregon State University
• Subjects: Internal waves; Ocean temperature > Beaufort Sea; Beaufort Sea
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/technical_reports/cv43nz07x

The Arctic Internal Wave Experiment (AIWEX) was designed to study the internal wave and microstructure fields in the Beaufort Sea in the early spring. A major goal of the experiment was to verify the hypothesis that the internal wave and microstructure fields beneath the ice are far less energetic than in temperate oceans. Major goals of the microstructure measurements were to characterize the double-diffusive staircase region in the depth range 300-450m, to estimate the heat flux from the deep Atlantic water into shallower depth zones, and to assess the influence of mesoscale and submesoscale eddies on turbulence beneath the ice. An ice camp was established in mid March 1985 to accomplish these goals. The camp was occupied until the first week of May, and microstructure casts were made beginning March 20 (Julian Day 79). Microstructure profiling continued until April 26; no profiles were obtained from April 4 through April 16 because of a malfunction in the data acquisition system. Over 700 casts were made spanning the range 0 to 500 m. The time between profiles averaged 20 minutes for a full-range profile. Not all casts covered the full depth range; some yo-yo casts through selected depth ranges were made to obtain detailed information on a shorter time scale. The ice camp drifted with a typical speed of 5 to 10 cm/s, although there were periods when the speed was as slow as 1 cm/s.