Oceanographic Instruments and Deployment Systems for Polar Seas

Abstract

Problems peculiar to oceanographic measurements i n p o l a r r e g i o n s a r e d i v i d e d i n t o t h o s e due t o the need f o r s p e c i a l i s e d deployment systems under winter/spring conditions and those due t o the oceanic environment. I t i s concluded t h a t major d i f f i c u l t i e s a r i s e due t o t h e l a c k of commercially available systems designed for use from t h e s e a i c e s u r f a c e and a lack of a prope r l y i n t e g r a t e d a p p r o a c h t o a problem involving instrumental, environmental and logistic concerns. Two major problems d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e c o l d a r c t i c w a t e r s a r e i c e c r y s t a l s w i t h i n w a t e r samples and the absence of an adequate directional reference from t h e e a r t h ' s magnetic f i e l d over a l a r g e p a r t of the Arctic Archipelago.