SASSIE: Shipboard Ocean Current Shear Measurements in the Beaufort Sea

SASSIE 2022 field campaign data provides measurements of ocean current speed vertical shear from an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). The dataset supports research into how salinity anomalies from melting sea ice affect sea surface temperature, stratification, and subsequent ice growth. Observations were made intensively within approximately 200 kilometers of the sea ice edge in the Beaufort Sea during August to October 2022.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical shear of ocean currents to understand upper ocean mixing near the ice edge.
• Investigating the relationship between salinity anomalies from ice melt and subsequent sea-ice growth.
• Validating remote sensing observations of sea surface temperature and stratification with in situ ADCP data.
• Studying the transition from summer melt to autumn ice advance in the Beaufort Sea region.

Strengths

• Data originates from a focused NASA field campaign (SASSIE) with a clear scientific objective.
• Provides in situ observations within a specific, critical region (~200 km of the sea ice edge).
• Covers a key seasonal transition period (August-October 2022) in the Arctic.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are not documented in the provided metadata.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2026-04 09 and 2022-10-04) create uncertainty about metadata maintenance.
• Available file formats (BIN, PDF, ISO, JPEG) suggest raw or packaged data which may require specialized tools to interpret.

Provenance

Source

NASA Salinity and Stratification at the Sea Ice Edge (SASSIE) field campaign.

Collection Method

Shipboard measurements collected via an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP).

Time Range

August 2022 to October 2022

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:44:50.402638

Geography

Beaufort Sea, within ~200 km of the sea ice edge.