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POLRES-Polarforskning POLRES

Current measurements north of Svalbard - An extension of the North Pole Environmental Observatory

Awarded: NOK 0.90 mill.

Project Number:

178919

Project Period:

2006 - 2009

Funding received from:

Partner countries:

The project consists of three parallell activities: technical capacity building, joint scientific studies and exchange of personell. The activies are built around the use of expendable current profiling in combination with other technologies to address ke y scientific issues. A capability for ocean current current profiling based on electromagnetic induction will be built up in Norway. This technology was pioneered at the Applied Physics Lab, UW, Seattle. It has not so far been used in Norway, but it is hi ghly suitable for addressing several issues also beyond the science focus of the present project. The activities will take place in steps, starting with development of a shipboard capability and the execution of joint experiments from a Norwegian vessel near the Yermak plateau where the West Spitsbergen Current meets the ice edge. Thereafter a capability will be developed for deployment from sea ice, and measurements will be made at the North Pole. All these activities are done in collaboration with the North Pole Environmental Observatory (NPEO) already funded by the NSF. A particular strength is the combination with microstructure profiling. A pilot project was completed in April 2006 when Dr. Ilker Fer used a Norwegian-owned microstructure profiler a t the NPEO ice camp as a contribution to the US-NO Atmosphere-Ice-Ocean Interaction (AIO) project. The planned activities in fall 2006 will be linked to the RCN funded ProClim project and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research centre-of-excellence. Acti vities in subsequent years will be linked to up to four other RCN project proposals pending funding decision. The planned activities are however not dependent upon additional funding beyond existing US NSF funding to NPEO. The efforts will be augmented b y involving students in the field work and analyses. There will be exchange of researchers and key technical personell from the start, and increasing emphasis on graduate student exchange in the later phase.

Funding scheme:

POLRES-Polarforskning POLRES