Abstracts
SEARCH Open Science Meeting
October 27, 2003
Seattle, Washington, USA
Hydrochemical Findings from the North Pole Environmental Observatory Program
Kelly K. Falkner1
1College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, oregon State University, 104 ocen Admin Bldg, Corvallis, OR, 97331-5503, USA, Phone 541-737-3625, Fax 541-737-2064, kfalkner@coas.oregonstate.edu
The North Pole Environmental Observatory time series began in 2000 to fill in an important gap in our observations of a highly variable and changing Arctic ocean-ice-atmosphere system. The distributed components of that observatory are described in detail on the project web-site: http://psc.apl.washington.edu/northpole/index.html.
Seawater samples have been obtained annually in the spring along various sections in the vicinity of the North Pole for the analysis of a range of chemical tracers. Parameters typically analyzed include salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, siliceous acid, phosphoric acid, dissolved barium and oxygen isotopes of water. These samples have been collected from several depths using narrow Niskin bottles in conjunction with CTD-profiling. The hydrocasts are conducted through holes drilled in the sea-ice at sites reached either by Twin Otter or helicopter. In 2002 and 2003, the CTD also included an SBE-43 new generation dissolved oxygen sensor and high-resolution vertical profiles of this chemical tracer were produced. The chemical data to date can be found at: http://chemoc.coas.oregonstate.edu/users/kfalkner.
In this poster, innovations to assure viable sample collection in the field are outlined. Highlights of the chemical findings are also presented with particular focus on the promise of the dissolved oxygen sensor. The Arctic Division of the Office of Polar Program at NSF is thanked for their sponsorship of this hydrochemical program under grant number 9910335 to K. Falkner.
Abstract Categories: Changes in the Sea
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