Arctic Ocean Current Meter Moorings and CTD Profiles

Arctic Sea hydrographic data from 65°N to 85°N comprises vertical profiles and current meter mooring measurements. The Alfred-Wegener-Institute collected this data using research vessels Polarstern, Meteor, and Knorr since 1987. The database contains datasets from about 250 moorings and 300 stations.

Use Cases

• Analyze current speed and direction variations over time from mooring data to study Arctic circulation dynamics.
• Model relationships between depth, temperature, conductivity, and salinity from CTD profiles for water mass classification.
• Track temporal changes in oxygen levels from CTD data to assess biogeochemical processes in the Arctic.
• Correlate temperature and salinity measurements from rotor current meter sensors (AVTS, AVTSP) with regional climate indices.
• Map the spatial distribution of hydrographic parameters across the Weddell Sea and other areas from station data.

Strengths

• Data spans over 35 years, starting in 1987 and continuing to present.
• Includes measurements from about 250 moorings and 300 stations.
• Captures multiple parameters including depth, current speed, temperature, salinity, conductivity, and oxygen.

Limitations

• Specific row counts and file sizes for the Arctic subset are not provided.
• Data access requires prior consultation with the Alfred-Wegener-Institute, which may delay use.
• The geographic focus is primarily on the Weddell Sea and Arctic regions above 65°N, limiting global applicability.

Provenance

Source

Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI) via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Collected by research vessels using sensors including ADCP, rotor current meters, and CTD sondes.

Time Range

1987 to present.

Freshness

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Geography

Arctic Sea, 65°N to 85°N, with a focus on the Weddell Sea.