JAMSTEC Initiative on Observational Study in the Arctic Ocean
Takatoshi Takizawa
Japan Marine Science and Technology Center, Yokosuka, Japan
The recent studies using the submarine observation data show that the cold halocline has substantially retreated from the Eurasian Basin during the 1990's and the front between waters with an Atlantic versus Pacific character has shifted over the Lomonosov Ridge to over the Alpha-Mendeleyev Ridges (Steele and Boyd, 1998; Morison et al.,1998). We have now realized that the Arctic Ocean is changing.
During the second ACSYS Conference in Rosario Resort in November, 1997, a changing Arctic Ocean was one of the prominent themes. At the ACSYS-SSG meeting in Seattle after the ACSYS Conference, the rappoteure's report stating the recent explosion of observational data in the Arctic Ocean stimulated an argument that we have so much and enough data for Global Change research? An answer is probably “no, we don't have enough. The sustained observation is certainly acute need.
To address this scientific issue, a variety of logistical means must be used. We have several observation methods in the Arctic Ocean such as,
1. Arctic Ocean Sections by ships
2. Automated drifting buoys
3. Ice camp
4. Submarine
5. Others
They all have their merits and demerits. For instance, Arctic Sections: we can obtain a comprehensive high-quality data set, but practical and safe Arctic oceanography will often require two-ship operations, which have been found to be prudent and effective in recent Arctic transits. Therefore, its operation costs are high and we have a few ships which are available in the Arctic Ocean. The costs of drifting buoy observations are relatively low and the basin-wide observation is possible through the year.
However, the observation is at the mercy of the wind.
The Arctic Ocean research in JAMSTEC started in 1991. We have conducted the hydrographic survey in the Bering-Chukchi Seas aboard the R/V Alpha Helix of University Alaska since 1992. This work has been made in international collaboration with IMS of University of Alaska, APL of University of Washington and the
Corresponding author address; Takatoshi Takizawa, JAMSTEC, 2-15 Natsushima, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan
E-mail: takizawat@jamstec.go.jp
