-- 2014 Chukchi Sea Oceanographic Drifters --

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Green dots denote deployment locations. Red dots denote location of last transmission of each drifter. These plots are updated weekly.

Click here for the 2014 Sea Surface Temperature trace Drifter Animation

Plots of drifter subsets:

Chukchi Sea Drifters

Beaufort Sea Drifters

Deployment #1: Pt. Hope

Deployment #2: Pt Lay

Deployment #3: Wainwright

Deployment #4: Kaktovik

 

Background:

The data displayed on this page are collected as part of a satellite-tracked drifter study in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas in the summer of 2014. The sampling involves co-located deployments of Microstar (1 m drogue) drifters to ascertain the 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:

Sponsors include the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) the North Slope Borough/Shell Baseline Studies Program and deployed by the North Slope Borough's Department of Wildlife Management.

Data Use Policy: NSB data were collected with funding from the North Slope Borough/Shell Baseline Studies Program and in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Please contact Dr. Leandra de Sousa (Leandra.Sousa@north-slope.org) of the NSB to obtain permission for any commercial or non-commercial uses of these data.

For information about these deployments, you may contact:

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

 

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

 

 

Seth Danielson

Institute of Marine Science
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Room 114 O'Neill Building
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Phone: (907) 474-7834
email: sldanielson@alaska.edu

 

Peter Winsor

Institute of Marine Science
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Room 123 O'Neill Building
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Phone: (907) 474-7440
email:pwinsor@alaska.edu