ArcticObs

Characterizing Arctic ocean-ice-atmosphere variability and predicting the system’s evolution on synoptic to seasonal timescales requires observations that span a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. Forecast quality depends on observations for initialization, assimilation, and for informing how the simulations represent unresolved physics. Data intended for use in nowcast/forecast efforts must be delivered in a timely fashion - a challenging requirement for polar regions where ice blocks access to satellite services. To support Navy missions in the ice-covered Arctic, this effort builds on technologies developed during the Arctic Mobile Observing Innovative Naval Prototype (AMOS INP) to maintain a multi-year, persistent presence in the central Arctic to investigate the pathways through which incoming Pacific waters make their way into the central Arctic, and broader questions of the mechanisms responsible for the transfer of heat and momentum in upper ocean. Efforts will also focus on extending the technologies and approaches that allow long-term, persistent autonomous observing, including infrastructure that supports geolocation, platform networking and data exfiltration.