Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print IARC scientists document warm water surging into Arctic

IARC scientists document warm water surging into Arctic

September 27, 2006

Scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Center this fall documented that recent surges of warm water from the North Atlantic Ocean continue to pulse into the Arctic Ocean and are moving toward Alaska and the Canadian Basin.

Scientists made the observations this fall during an oceanographic cruise aboard the Russian icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn as part of the Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational Systems program. Information gathered by the NABOS program, as well as from other international programs, has shown that, during the last decade, the movement of warm water into the Arctic Ocean has increased. And the readings from this fall's cruise show unprecedented warmth in some areas.




"The large area of the Arctic Ocean promises to become much warmer," said Igor Polyakov, NABOS principal investigator and a research professor at IARC.

The readings come from observational moorings, which are instrument-bearing buoys that are anchored to the ocean floor and float below the surface of the ocean. These instruments first detected a surge of anomalous warm water, at mid-ocean depths of about 150 to 800 meters below the surface, in February of 2004 on the continental slope of the Laptev Sea, Polyakov said. "What we found this year was one of our eastern moorings also showed a warming signal."

That finding indicates that the warm water is moving further and further into the Arctic, he said, which could increase the overall temperature of the Arctic Ocean. While the causes of the influx of warm water will require further study, the observations from the NABOS project suggest that the Arctic Ocean is moving toward a warmer state, a change that could have global implications.

Ocean temperature in the Arctic is important because it may affect the amount of sea ice in the region. Scientists believe that arctic sea ice cover plays a major role in the global climate, as ice reflects more of the sun's heat than open water.

The NABOS project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation and is a collaboration among six nations. It is one of many UAF projects that will contribute to the international efforts of the upcoming International Polar Year. IPY is a two-year event, slated to begin in March 2007, which will focus research efforts and public attention on the Earth's polar regions. UAF is among a handful of institutions worldwide that is ideally situated to participate in IPY research, education and outreach.

University of Alaska Fairbanks



Related Arctic Ocean Current Events and Arctic Ocean News Articles Arctic Ocean Current Events and Arctic Ocean News RSS Arctic Ocean Current Events and Arctic Ocean News RSS
A bubbling ball of gas
The Sun is a bubbling mass. Packages of gas rise and sink, lending the sun its grainy surface structure, its granulation. Dark spots appear and disappear, clouds of matter dart up - and behind the whole thing are the magnetic fields, the engines of it all.

Cave Study Links Climate Change to California Droughts
California experienced centuries-long droughts in the past 20,000 years that coincided with the thawing of ice caps in the Arctic.

Last time carbon dioxide levels were this high: 15 million years ago, scientists report
You would have to go back at least 15 million years to find carbon dioxide levels on Earth as high as they are today, a UCLA scientist and colleagues report Oct. 8 in the online edition of the journal Science.

NASA flies to Antarctica for largest airborne polar ice survey
NASA begins a series of flights Oct. 15 to study changes to Antarctica's sea ice, glaciers and ice sheets. The flights are part of Operation Ice Bridge, a six-year campaign that is the largest airborne survey ever made of ice at Earth's polar regions.

Arctic Sea ice extent is third lowest on record
U.S. satellite measurements show Arctic sea ice extent in 2009 - the area of the Arctic Ocean covered by floating ice - was the third lowest since satellite measurements were first made in 1979.

Satellites and submarines give the skinny on sea ice thickness
This summer, a group of scientists and students - as well as a Canadian senator, a writer, and a filmmaker - set out from Resolute Bay, Canada, on the icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent.

NASA, CU-Boulder airborne expedition chases Arctic sea ice questions
A small NASA aircraft completed its first successful science flight Thursday in partnership with the University of Colorado at Boulder as part of an expedition to study the receding Arctic sea ice and improve understanding of its life cycle and the long-term stability of the Arctic ice cover.

Arctic climate under greenhouse conditions in the Late Cretaceous
New evidence for ice-free summers with intermittent winter sea ice in the Arctic Ocean during the Late Cretaceous - a period of greenhouse conditions - gives a glimpse of how the Arctic is likely to respond to future global warming.

Mercury in Mackenzie River delta dramatically higher than previously believed
University of Alberta researchers conducting a water study in the Mackenzie River Delta have found a dramatically higher delivery of mercury from the Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean than determined in previous studies.

New cleaning protocol for future 'search for life' missions
Scientists have developed a new cleaning protocol for space hardware, such as the scoops of Mars rovers, which could be used on future "Search for Life" missions on other planets.
More Arctic Ocean Current Events and Arctic Ocean News Articles
The Arctic Ocean: A Guide to the Coastal Wildlife (Bradt Guides)

The Arctic Ocean: A Guide to the Coastal Wildlife (Bradt Guides)
by Tony Soper (Author), Dan Powell (Illustrator)

A barren and inhospitable region for most of the year, the Arctic is permanent home to just a handful of hardy creatures. But come the summer, the wind stirs the waters to bring minerals to the surface, nourishing the plankton that in turn attracts numerous birds and sea mammals to these shores. For just a few short months of almost endless daylight, the winter inhabitants of the Arctic fringes are joined by numerous shorebirds and waterfowl, seals and whales, all taking advantage of the abundance of food before heading south to avoid the harsh winter. Tony Soper's lively text provides the perfect companion to an exploration of the coastal regions of the Arctic and its inhabitants. Enhanced by specially commissioned watercolor paintings, this book will bring added insight to those...

The Four Oceans (Rookie Read-About Geography)

The Four Oceans (Rookie Read-About Geography)
by Wil Mara (Author)

The popular Rookie Books expand their horizons - to all corners of the globe! With this series all about geography, emergent readers will take off on adventures to cities, nations, waterways, and habitats around the worldÂ…and right in their own backyards.

  The Arctic (Seas and oceans)
by Pat Hargreaves (Author)

An introduction to the Arctic Ocean: its formation and exploration, the movements of currents, winds, and icebergs, marine animals and the life of the Eskimos who live on its shores.

Gösta Nystroem: Arctic Ocean; Sinfonia Breve; Sinfonia Seria

Gösta Nystroem: Arctic Ocean; Sinfonia Breve; Sinfonia Seria
Gosta Nystroem (Composer), Jukka-Pekka Saraste (Composer), Peter Eros (Composer), Sixten Ehrling (Composer), Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (Composer), Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (Composer)



H2Ocean Arctic Ocean Rinse for Oral Piercings: 8 Ounce

H2Ocean Arctic Ocean Rinse for Oral Piercings: 8 Ounce
by H2Ocean

All Natural Mouthwash Arctic Ocean Rinse is formulated with all natural ingredients to help heal your new oral piercings and maintain existing oral piercings. This exclusive formula also helps your entire mouth benefiting your teeth and gums. H2Ocean?s unique combination of natural ingredients provides you with the ultimate in Oral care mouthwash?s on the market. How it Works H2OCean Arctic Ocean RinseRefresh your breath with a cool arctic feel from the first daily oral rinse that uses coral reef sea salt, natural enzymes and minerals to help cleanse and protect living cells inside your mouth. This combination of minerals and enzymes help promote gum tissue growth, treat sore gums, reduce plaque, fight cavities and eliminate mouth infections. H2Ocean has also included an FDA registered...

Source Naturals ArcticPure EFA Fish Oil 325mg, 120 softgels

Source Naturals ArcticPure EFA Fish Oil 325mg, 120 softgels
by Source Naturals

Dietary supplement. Arctic Pure uses oil from fish caught in the cleanest and coldest body of water, the Arctic Ocean. A series of advanced distillation processes concentrates and extracts beneficial fatty acids, while guaranteeing the absence of heavy metals and PCB's. Natural flavors give our ArcticPure oils a taste that is pleasing to both children and adults. ArcticPure EFA combines omega-3 (fish oil) and omega-6 (borage oil) fatty acids. These fatty acids (EPA, DHA, and GLA) are important for proper cell signaling and membrane integrity. ArcticPure EFA is enhanced with advanced lipid-stabilizing antioxidants for extended freshness (These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any...

Colour Map 1959 Arctic Ocean Greenland Iceland North

Colour Map 1959 Arctic Ocean Greenland Iceland North
by old-print

A large colour map taken from volume two of The Times Atlas of the world, mid century edition. Edited by John Bartholomew. This edition contains maps from South West Asia and Russia. Published in 1959, size of each map is 24 x 19 inches (610 x 480).

Long Sleeve T-shirt with iceberg, ocean, sea, arctic, glacier, winter Large White

Long Sleeve T-shirt with iceberg, ocean, sea, arctic, glacier, winter Large White
by Shop Zeus



Onesie with iceberg, ocean, sea, arctic, glacier, winter

Onesie with iceberg, ocean, sea, arctic, glacier, winter
by Shop Zeus



Arctic Ocean Paradise Scene Kit

Arctic Ocean Paradise Scene Kit
by Buy Seasons



© 2009 BrightSurf.com