Introduction to special collection on Arctic Ocean modeling and observational synthesis (FAMOS) 2: Beaufort Gyre phenomenon

Abstract

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2020. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans 125(2), (2020): e2019JC015400, doi:10.1029/2019JC015400.One of the foci of the Forum for Artic Modeling and Observational Synthesis (FAMOS) project is improving Arctic regional ice‐ocean models and understanding of physical processes regulating variability of Arctic environmental conditions based on synthesis of observations and model results. The Beaufort Gyre, centered in the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean, is an ideal phenomenon and natural laboratory for application of FAMOS modeling capabilities to resolve numerous scientific questions related to the origin and variability of this climatologic freshwater reservoir and flywheel of the Arctic Ocean. The unprecedented volume of data collected in this region is nearly optimal to describe the state and changes in the Beaufort Gyre environmental system at synoptic, seasonal, and interannual time scales. The in situ and remote sensing data characterizing ocean hydrography, sea surface heights, ice drift, concentration and thickness, ocean circulation, and biogeochemistry have been used for model calibration and validation or assimilated for historic reconstructions and establishing initial conditions for numerical predictions. This special collection of studies contributes time series of the Beaufort Gyre data; new methodologies in observing, modeling, and analysis; interpretation of measurements and model output; and discussions and findings that shed light on the mechanisms regulating Beaufort Gyre dynamics as it transitions to a new state under different climate forcing.We would like to thank all FAMOS participants (https://web.whoi.edu/famos/ and https://famosarctic.com/) and collaborators of the Beaufort Gyre Exploration project (https://www.whoi.edu/beaufortgyre) for their continued enthusiasm, creativity, and support during all stages of both projects. This research is supported by the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs (projects 1845877, 1719280, and 1604085). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Arctic dynamic topography/geostrophic currents data were provided by the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, University College London (www.cpom.ucl.ac.uk/dynamic_topography; Armitage et al. (2016, 2017). The other data used in this paper are available at the NCAR/NCEP (https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/gridded/data.ncep.reanalysis.html), NSIDC (https://nsidc.org/), NSF's Arctic data center (https://arcticdata.io/; Keywords for data search are “Beaufort Gyre”, “Krishfield” or “Proshutinsky”), and WHOI Beaufort Gyre exploration website (www.whoi.edu/beaufortgyre)