Arctic In Focus

  • Bering Strait Shipping: Sea Ice, Economics and Governance

    BERING STRAIT SHIPPING: SEA ICE, ECONOMICS, and GOVERNANCE will be held at 10am on January 12 with HENRY HUNTINGTON, Pew Charitable Trusts. Commercial vessel traffic through the Bering Strait is expected to increase in the coming years. Henry Huntingto...

    Historical Sea Ice Atlas now Online

    This new web-based tool, developed by a consortium of partners, allows users to view and download sea ice concentration data around Alaska from 1850 to the present.

    Alaska Platform of Opportunity Portal (APOP) Launches in Time for Field Season Planning

    Trying to get a piece of equipment or a researcher out in the field this season? Visit a new map-based portal that displays information about upcoming research cruises in Alaska waters.

    View the Arctic from the Healy!

    The USCG vessel Healy is conducting scientific research in the Arctic.  Check out hourly photos of the Arctic Ocean from its high-mounted webcam... sunrise, sea ice, maybe even a marine mammal or two...

    Exploring Currents in the Chukchi Sea

    The University of Alaska Fairbanks is producing daily graphics and animations showing the tracks of their oceanographic Arctic drifters. Check out this exciting project!

    Arctic Research Assets Map Expands

    Explore the newly updated Arctic Research Assets Map, showing instruments and monitoring locations for new studies, and offering user-friendly functions.

    Chukchi glider explores Arctic waters

    Marine scientists use gliders—one of several types of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)—to gather data across vast stretches of open ocean. Gliders are especially handy in northern seas, where remote locations, harsh weather, and difficult logistics are commonplace.

    View sea ice extent through the AOOS Model Explorer

    Sea ice extent around Alaska changes from day to day.  A useful AOOS application can help you track changes or see today's extent.

    Arctic news archive

  • Arctic collaborations

    • Industry Arctic Data publicly available through AOOS Ocean Workspace

      data-sharing agreement between NOAA and three oil companies (Shell, ConocoPhillips, and StatOil) with leases in the Chukchi Sea is yielding a wealth of raw environmental studies data collected by ConocoPhillips, Shell and Statoil in the Chukchi Sea between 2008 and 2011.  Click here to read more

    • Conceptual Buildout Plan for an Arctic Ocean Observing System for the U.S./Alaska Arctic

      AOOS is developing a conceptual build out plan for an Arctic Ocean Observing System for the Alaska Arctic.  Please let us know what you think.

    • Spatial Tools for Arctic Mapping and Planning (STAMP)

      AOOS and partners have received funding from NOAA to develop data visualization tools for Alaska's Arctic. The collection and synthesis of spatial data into a suite of visualization tools is a critical step for long-term collaborative planning in Alaska for a wide range of coastal uses.  This project is called STAMP.

    • Help AOOS update and expand Research Assets Map

      Visit the Arctic Research Assets Map to find details on instruments and monitoring in Arctic waters.  Have instruments to add for 2012?  Let us know!

    • Ocean Acidification in the Arctic

      Scientists estimate that that the ocean is 25% more acidic today than it was 300 years ago, traceable to increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 from fossil fuel combustion and land use change. Alaska waters are especially susceptible because of their unique circulation patterns and colder temperatures—cold water can absorb more CO2 than warm water.

    • A Sea Ice Atlas for Alaska

      There is an ongoing need for timely and detailed information about sea ice conditions off Alaska. Now, powerful geographic information system (GIS) software and in-house expertise, plus historical databases extending back to the 1950s, have encouraged AOOS to partner with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) to produce a digital sea ice atlas for Alaska waters that will be publicly accessible through the AOOS website.

    • Surface current mapping with HF radar

      All mariners must consider the currents created by tidal ebb and flood. When winds and waves are also factors, the speed of these currents can magnify waves to dangerous heights. HF radar is a powerful tool for measuring speed and direction of surface currents.

    • Chukchi glider explores Arctic waters

      Marine scientists use gliders—one of several types of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)—to gather data across vast stretches of open ocean. Gliders are especially handy in northern seas, where remote locations, harsh weather, and difficult logistics are commonplace.

  • Models and Remote Sensing

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    Explore the AOOS Forecasts and Models Map

  • Featured real time sensors

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    Expore the AOOS real time sensors mapping application

  • The Arctic is a National Priority

    “[The Nation must] address environmental stewardship needs in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent coastal areas in the face of climate-induced and other environmental changes.”
    –2010 National Ocean Policy

    The Arctic is a team effort.  As with our efforts statewide, AOOS work in the Arctic builds upon existing efforts and focuses on collaboration to increase the amount of real-time  observations. The Arctic is changing with the climate, bringing with it the potential for increased commercial activity and major habitat changes for its permanent residents.

    To meet these challenges, AOOS will:

    1. Increase access to existing Arctic coastal and ocean data
    2. Package information and data in useful ways
    3. Increase observing and forecasting capacity