Overview of the “Sea State and Boundary Layer Physics on the Emerging Arctic” experiment

The goal of the “Sea State and Boundary Layer Physics on the Emerging Arctic” program is to understand how surface conditions are changing in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, and in particular to understand the role of surface waves and winds during the fall ice advance. The program is centered on a field campaign aboard R/V Sikuliaq in the fall of 2015. The field campaign will include shipboard measurements, ice stations, autonomous platforms, and moorings. A large suite of remote sensing products, from both satellites and aerial surveys, will be utilized for scientific and logistic support. This abstract will present an overview of the program and a recap of the research cruise, including an assessment of the conditions during the cruise relative to the emerging climatology.