IPY: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: The Pacific Gateway to the Arctic- Quantifying and Understanding Bering Strait Oceanic Fluxes

Woodgate-0632154 Weingartner-0631713Funds用于对整个白令海峡地区进行重点观测研究(与俄罗斯、加拿大和日本科学家合作)。这项研究将包括在2007-2009年部署一个高分辨率的系泊阵列，覆盖海峡的两个航道和海峡以北的一个“气候”地点，每年进行CTD调查和系泊服务，卫星数据分析以及理论和模拟工作。科学目标是：1)测量白令海峡贯通流的速度和水的性质；2)了解影响白令海峡贯通流性质的物理过程，特别是驱动变化的机制，以及由此对北冰洋的影响；3)量化通过该海峡的体积、淡水、热量、营养物质和叶绿素生物量的海洋通量；4)设计一个最优的白令海峡海洋通量监测系统。PIS的假设是，白令海峡的通流特性是由全球和区域的海洋和大气过程决定的，这些过程容易受到气候变化的影响，了解海峡的物理过程和尺度是量化当前状况、评估未来变化情景和为这个海洋门户设计有效的观测方案的关键。

Woodgate - 0632154Weingartner - 0631713Funds are provided for an observationally focused study of the entire Bering Strait region (in collaboration with Russian, Canadian and Japanese scientists). The study will include deployment of a high resolution mooring array from 2007-2009, covering the two channels of the strait and one "climate" site to the north of the strait, annual CTD surveys and mooring servicing, satellite data analysis and theoretical and modeling efforts. Science objectives are:1) to measure the velocities and water properties of the Bering Strait throughflow;2) to understand the physical processes influencing the properties of the Bering Strait throughflow, with special focus on mechanisms driving change, and consequent impacts on the Arctic Ocean;3) to quantify oceanic fluxes of volume, freshwater, heat, nutrients and chlorophyll biomass through the strait;4) to design an optimum monitoring system for oceanic fluxes through the Bering Strait.The PIs' hypotheses are that Bering Strait throughflow properties are set by global and regional oceanic and atmospheric processes, which are vulnerable to climate change, and that understanding the physical processes and scalings in the strait are key to quantifying current conditions, assessing future change scenarios, and designing an efficient observational scheme for this oceanic gateway.