Ocean and sea-ice dynamics in Nares Strait and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Lead Research Organisation: University of Oxford
Department Name: Earth Sciences

Abstract

The Canadian Arctic Archipelago (defined here to include Nares Strait which borders Greenland) is a key gateway that links the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic. Changes in the flux of freshened seawater and ice through its channels have the potential to significantly affect the distribution of sea-ice in the Arctic and the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, and hence influence both regional and global climate. Yet the ocean circulation in this region is poorly modelled, monitored and understood. This project will use a regional, high-resolution coupled ocean-sea-ice model to determine the dynamics that govern the flow through the archipelago. The processes by and timescales on which this flow adjusts to change in atmospheric forcing will also be identified. There will be a particular focus on Nares Strait, one of the three major channels, a key exporter of multi-year ice from the Arctic, and the subject of a recent intensive observational campaign. This project is timely in that it will provide fundamental physical understanding to aid in the interpretation and extrapolation of results from observational projects funded under the International Polar Year of 2007-2009. The results will allow us to make more confident estimates of the total freshwater flux currently exported through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and better founded predictions of future change. The inability of global climate models to represent the important dynamical processes that occur in the high-latitude ocean poses a serious problem for predictions of climate change. Determination of the underlying physical mechanisms and sensitivities is a crucial step towards understanding how these flows might be better represented.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description 1.Tthe timescale on which the Arctic ocean adjusts to a change in wind forcing or ice cover is set by eddies, and is about a decade.

2. Increased internal wave mixing is unlikely to significantly change the amount of Atlantic layer heat that is brought up to the surface, into contact with the ice, because stratification changes will dominate.

3. Interaction between the ocean and the Greenland ice sheet in fjords such as Petermann Fjord depends on basal ice shelf topography as well as regional stratification. It will likely change in the future and may play an increasingly important role in the mass budget of Greenland.

4. Comprehensive understanding of the strength and structure of the tidal flow in Nares Strait, west of Greenland.
Exploitation Route Will inform the development of the next generation of models used for climate prediction
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Energy

Environment

Transport

 
Description Industrial CASE award
Amount £92,000 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/P009638/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2021
 
Description Collaboration with Canadian government Arctic research scientists 
Organisation Institute of Ocean Sciences
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaboration with Dr Humfrey Melling at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, BC, Canada (Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans). We have contributed manpower, expertise and modest research travel funding to an extensive oceanographic fieldwork campaign in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. While this collaboration began before this award, its continuation was related to funding received during this award.
Collaborator Contribution Our partners have funded the field program, including instrumentation, ship-time, expertise, etc.
Impact Several publications: 10.1002/2013JC009402, 10.3189/2012AoG60A059, 10.1357/002224012805262725, 10.1029/2010JC006519, 10.5670/oceanog.2011.62. Improved understanding of a key gateway region linking the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Several outreach publications (e.g. EOS transactions, Challenger Wave) and outreach talks to schools and public audiences.
Start Year 2006
 
Description Collaboration with MIT ocean general circulation modellers 
Organisation Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Idealized modelling of the Canadian Archipelago and Arctic Ocean
Collaborator Contribution Model support
Impact Lique et al. (2015a), Lique et al. (2015b).
Start Year 2012
 
Description Dr Camille Lique (Brest) 
Organisation Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Co-supervision of students and postdocs, and project partner on research grant applications.
Collaborator Contribution Co-supervision of students, and project partner on research grant applications.
Impact Successful funding to French collaborator (with travel etc. for me as UK project partner).
Start Year 2015
 
Description Participation in the N-ICE2015 project 
Organisation Norwegian Veterinary Institute
Country Norway 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We collaborate in the Norwegian Young Sea Ice project (N-ICE) which is run out of NPI in Tromso but involves a large international team of scientists focused on understanding ice-ocean-atm processes in the marginal ice zone. We sent a student to participate in the drift of a research vessel and collect physical and chemical oceanography data through the ice. We are involved in analysing the data from the project, and engaged in related modelling activities which will add value to the campaign.
Collaborator Contribution Our Norwegian partners funded the ship-time and project expenses, and took the lead in directing the project.
Impact Few concrete outcomes as yet, but will result in several publications over the next year or two
Start Year 2014
 
Description Arctic Research Blog 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Blog maintained while postdoc on grant was conducting oceanographic fieldwork on board a Canadian Coastguard icebreaker in the Canadian Archipelago in summer 2012 (available at http://blogs.earth.ox.ac.uk/po/).

Generated lots of requests for further information and positive feedback from readers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Outreach talk (Ashmolean Natural History Society) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards.

Members of audience keen to follow up via webpages etc., and to engage related speakers in future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Outreach talk (GXSA) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards.

Many audience members requested further information, and expressed a desire to hear from related speakers in the future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Outreach talk (Harrow and Hillingdon Geological Society) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards

Members of audience keen to follow up via relevant webpages, and to engage related speakers in future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Outreach talk (RMS Saturday talks) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact Talk sparked questions, discussion and requests for materials afterwards.

Several requests for further information after my talk, as well as links made to artists (playwright, choreographer...) interested in communicating climate change message to a broad public audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013