The experience of oceanographic observations in the ice camp during the drift of the experimental station “vessel — ice”

Abstract

We discuss the experience of conducting special oceanographic observations in the ice camp of the experimental drifting station. In a changing climate the Barents Sea is exposed to an important change in a heat and salt balance and a system of ocean currents. These changes are related to the distribution of the Atlantic waters, surface waters and sea ice, so a drifting station appears to be the best-adapted platform for complex simultaneous measurements of sea water properties and phenomena. The drifting station was organized as a “vessel — ice” camp during the first leg of the “Transarktika-2019” expedition, and the following characteristics were measured: temperature, salinity, ocean currents and turbulence. A detailed description of the experimental station is presented: three sites on ice with CTD-strings, one equipped additionally with ADCP and one site on ice with a turbulent cluster equipped with a 3D velocimeter, ADCP and CTD. The RV “Akademik Tryoshnikov” was another platform for oceanographic measurements. We present some results of a qualitative analysis of the obtained data. The conditions of the experiment are considered as inadequate for studying the characteristics of internal waves, but we state the efficiency and the potential of the developed approach of in situ observations in a turbulent cluster for calculation of fluxes and discuss the obtained from CTD thermal structures. Finally, we evaluate the possibility of application of the obtained experience for future drifting ice camps in the North Pole.