-- 2011 Chukchi Sea Oceanographic Drifters --

Circle = deployment location
Green = position fix more than 48 hrs old
Yellow = position fix more than 24 hrs old
Red = position fix less than 24 hours old
Black text = most recent ARGOS fix
Blue text = most recent GPS fix
Triangle = SVP Drifter
X = CODE Drifter

Depth contours are plotted at the following bathymetric levels: 3000 m, 2000 m, 1000 m, 500 m, 200 m, 150 m, 100 m, 80 m, 60 m, 40 m, 20 m.

2011 Drifter Animation

-- Recent meteorological conditions at 70.03N/166.07W --

Regional view, GPS position fix

107030
107032
107033
107034
107035
107038
107040
107041
107044
107051
107052
107053
107074
107463
107465
107466
107467
107468
107469
107470
107472
107473
107476
107477
107478
107479
107480
107481
107482
107483
107484
107485
107486

 

Local view, GPS position fix

107030
107032
107033
107034
107035
107038
107040
107041
107044
107051
107052
107053
107074
107463
107465
107466
107467
107468
107469
107470
107472
107473
107476
107477
107478
107479
107480
107481
107482
107483
107484
107485
107486

 

Time Series, GPS position fix

107030
107032
107033
107034
107035
107038
107040
107041
107044
107051
107052
107053
107074
107463
107465
107466
107467
107468
107469
107470
107472
107473
107476
107477
107478
107479
107480
107481
107482
107483
107484
107485
107486

 

Regional view, ARGOS position fix

107030
107032
107033
107034
107035
107038
107040
107044
107051
107463
107465
107466
107467
107469
107470
107473
107476
107477
107478
107479
107480
107481
107482
107483
107484
107485
107486

 

Local view, ARGOS position fix

107030
107032
107033
107034
107035
107038
107040
107044
107051
107463
107465
107466
107467
107469
107470
107473
107476
107477
107478
107479
107480
107481
107482
107483
107484
107485
107486

 

Time Series, ARGOS position fix

107030
107032
107033
107034
107035
107038
107040
107044
107051
107463
107465
107466
107467
107469
107470
107473
107476
107477
107478
107479
107480
107481
107482
107483
107484
107485
107486

 

Background:

The data displayed on this page are collected as part of a satellite-tracked drifter study in the Northeast Chukchi Sea in the summer of 2011. The sampling involves co-located deployments of WOCE (10 m drogue) and CODE (1 m drogue) drifters to ascertain the surface and near surface circulation. These cluster deployments will allow us to better understand current shear in the upper ocean and its relation to seasonal changes in stratification and winds. The data and this understanding will be useful in evaluating circulation and oil spill trajectory models for this shelf. This data is used with companion studies of surface current mapping radars, instrumented moorings and autonomous gliders to engender a more comprehensive understanding of the Chukchi Sea's physical dynamics.

Acknowledgements:

Offshore deployments are funded through the Coastal Marine Instutute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Sponsors include the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), Shell Oil, Conoco Phillips, and Statoil. Nearshore drifter deployments are funded by the North Slope Borough/Shell Baseline Studies Program and deployed by the North Slope Borough's Department of Wildlife Management.

Contact:

For information about this project, contact

Thomas Weingartner

Institute of Marine Science
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Room 115 O'Neill Building
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Phone: (907) 474-7993
email: tjweingartner@alaska.edu

 

Leandra de Sousa

Department of Wildlife Management
North Slope Borough
PO Box 69
Barrow, AK, 99723
Phone: (907) 852-0350
email: Leandra.Sousa@north-slope.org