AON Collaborative Research: Continuation of long-term Beaufort Gyre observations in 2020-2024 to enhance understanding of the Arctic's role in climate variability

北极正在经历快速的气候变化，大气温度变暖的速度超过全球平均速度的两倍，北极海冰急剧减少，海洋中热量和淡水持续积累。这些变化对全球气候、海洋生态系统和地缘政治产生了广泛的影响。波弗特环流是北冰洋主要的海冰和海洋环流系统之一，也是北极和全球变化的核心。在这一地区观测到的海冰损失和海洋变化最为显著。明显的例子是海洋中相对淡水的浓度和海洋中所含热量的大量增加。波弗特环流的其他显著变化包括海洋酸化和海洋生态系统的转变。这个项目是一个广泛的观测项目，记录和分析波弗特环流的海冰和海洋特性的演变。对这些数据的深入分析有助于了解波弗特环流在北极和全球气候系统中的作用，这对于制定最可行的未来气候预测至关重要。该项目建立在2003-2020年波弗特环流观测系统（BGOS）项目的发现基础上，对波弗特环流进行采样和分析。BGOS将在2020-2024年继续运行，包括对数据的广泛分析和解释。海洋系泊取样海水特性和海冰，以解决亚日至年际变化。与加拿大科学家合作，每年在船上进行海洋采样，增加了全年的系泊测量。这些数据包括热量、淡水、洋流、海底压力、生物地球化学特性和海冰的测量结果。将这些观测结果与现有的长期测量结果结合起来进行分析和解释，以检验与淡水演变、冰-海系统能量学、海洋热量积累和生物地球化学有关的关键假设。BGOS计划与其他国家和国际项目进行协调，以提高观测活动的有效性和相互联系。该项目包括培训学生，为他们提供参加BGOS考察的机会，并为他们提供BGOS数据分析方面的建议。这包括耶鲁大学和伍兹霍尔海洋研究所之间的教育交流，包括研究生和暑期本科生，以及分层指导。其他更广泛的影响包括船上的科学报告、教程和派遣，参与NSF PolarTREC计划，以及加拿大和阿拉斯加北极社区的参与。从数据和分析中获得的波弗特环流系统的长期视角和知识对各种各样的北极过程至关重要，最终对我们对气候系统的理解至关重要。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Arctic is undergoing rapid climate change, with atmospheric temperatures warming at a rate greater than twice the global average, a precipitous decline in Arctic sea ice, and sustained accumulation of heat and freshwater in the ocean. These changes have extensive consequences for global climate, marine ecosystems and geopolitics. The Beaufort Gyre is one of the Arctic Ocean’s main sea-ice and ocean circulation systems and a centerpiece for Arctic and global change. The most pronounced sea-ice losses and ocean changes are observed in this region. Conspicuous examples are the substantial increases in concentrations of relatively fresh water in the ocean, and in the amount of heat contained in the ocean. Other prominent changes in the Beaufort Gyre include ocean acidification and transformations in the marine ecosystem. This project is an extensive observing program to document and analyze the Beaufort Gyre’s evolving sea ice and ocean properties. In-depth analyses of the data provide understanding of the Beaufort Gyre’s role in the Arctic and global climate system, which is essential to develop the most viable future climate predictions.This project builds upon the discoveries of the 2003-2020 Beaufort Gyre Observing System (BGOS) project to sample and analyze the Beaufort Gyre. BGOS operations are continued in 2020-2024 including an extensive analysis and interpretation of the data. Ocean moorings sample seawater properties and sea-ice to resolve sub-daily to interannual variability. Annual ship-based ocean sampling, in collaboration with Canadian scientists, augments the year-round mooring measurements. The data comprise measurements of heat, freshwater, currents, bottom pressure, biogeochemical properties, and sea ice. These observations are analyzed and interpreted in context with the existing long-term measurements to test key hypotheses related to the evolving freshwater, energetics of the ice-ocean system, the accumulation of ocean heat, and biogeochemistry. The BGOS program coordinates with and accommodates other national and international projects to enhance effectiveness and interconnections of observing activities. The project includes training of students, providing them with the opportunity to participate in BGOS expeditions and advising them in BGOS data analysis. This encompasses an educational exchange between Yale and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution involving graduate students and summer undergraduate students, and tiered mentoring. Other broader impacts include ship-board scientific presentations, tutorials, and dispatches, participation in the NSF PolarTREC program, and engagement of Arctic communities in Canada and Alaska. The long-term Beaufort Gyre system perspective and knowledge gained from the data and analysis are vital to a wide variety of Arctic processes and, ultimately, our understanding of the climate system.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.