SASSIE: Wave Glider Observations of Arctic Ocean Salinity and Stratification

August-October 2022 data from a NASA field campaign in the Beaufort Sea, sampling the transition from summer melt to autumn ice advance. The dataset contains in situ and remote sensing observations from four autonomous wavegliders deployed near Prudhoe Bay, measuring ocean surface salinity, temperature, currents, waves, and meteorological data. Custom CTD profiles extend salinity and temperature measurements to a depth of 150 meters.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the impact of salinity anomalies on sea surface temperature and stratification based on concurrent salinity and temperature profiles.
• Modeling autumn sea-ice growth initiation using time-series data from the summer-to-autumn transition period.
• Studying near-surface ocean currents and wave conditions within ~200km of the sea ice edge from waveglider measurements.
• Validating remote sensing products with in situ observations of atmospheric and ocean surface variables.

Strengths

• Data originates from a focused NASA field campaign (SASSIE) with a clear scientific objective.
• Includes vertical profile data from custom CTDs reaching 150m depth, beyond typical surface measurements.
• Observations are spatially focused within ~200km of the Beaufort Sea ice edge during a critical seasonal transition.

Limitations

• Column names and precise data structure are not provided in the available metadata.
• Data is provided as compressed files containing graphics and MATLAB files, which may require specific software for full access.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (2022-10 31 and 2026-04-09), creating ambiguity about metadata freshness.

Provenance

Source

NASA SASSIE project, POCLOUD

Collection Method

Field campaign using four autonomous wavegliders equipped with oceanographic and meteorological sensors.

Time Range

August 2022 - October 2022

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:44:30.169471

Geography

Beaufort Sea, near Prudhoe Bay and within ~200km of the sea ice edge