USCGC Polar Sea Drift Project '81

Abstract

The USCGC POLAR SEA ... departed her home port of Seattle, Washington on 20 January 1981 to conduct Arctic West Winter 1981 operations. The purpose of the deployment was to determine whether it was possible to transit to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, during the winter and also to conduct ice studies to determine the type of ice conditions that could normally be expected during such a transit. On 11 February 1981, the POLAR SEA made history when she became the first ship ever to reach Point Barrow, Alaska in the middle of winter. On 13 March 1981, after several mechanical casualties, the POLAR SEA was beset in ice. It was decided to use this unique opportunity to study the arctic environment. ... During the POLAR SEA's journey her drift was monitored by satellite-tracked radio transmitters .... The POLAR SEA's positions were then determined using the ARGOS Data Collection System ... aboard the TIROS-N series of polar orbiting U.S. meteorological satellites. ... Three TIROS Arctic Drifters ... were deployed on the ice in the vicinity of the POLAR SEA to study the dynamics of the Arctic gyre in the southern Beaufort Sea. These transmitters indicated a drift rate for the ice pack of about 6 cm/sec to the northwest. ... A study was conducted of the micromorphology and structure of the upper surface layer of the sea ice. ... Some snow depth measurements were made and snow samples were melted and their salinity determined. ... ice cores [were collected] for ice algae density studies and water samples for nutrients, salinity and pH measurements. Ten ice cores from four different locations were obtained as well as a number of frozen and preserved water samples for later analysis. ... An extensive marine mammal survey was also conducted. ... Prior to the besetment, ARCTEC, Inc. personnel profiled eleven pressure ridges in the vicinity of Point Barrow, ten of which were multi-year ridges. ... One first-year pressure ridge was profiled at Nome. During the drift phase of the project, two multi-year ridges were profiled (sail, sonar, and physical drilling), and two multi-year ridges partially profiled. ... During the Drift Project sea ice analysis and forecasts along with weather forecasting were provided by NAVPOLAROCEANCEN. ... On 13 May 1981 two months after being beset, the USCGC POLAR SEA reached the edge of the ice pack and steamed into open water. These two months provided scientists with an opportunity to make observations that will greatly add to our understanding of this remote and hostile environment. ...