Observations from the edge of the Beaufort Gyre: Ice-Tethered Profilers in 2018-2019

The ocean circulation in the Arctic advects and stirs heat, salt, and other water properties throughout the ocean basins. Property contrasts are elevated at the boundaries of the Beaufort Gyre where water can be entrained into and escape out of the gyre. Three Ice-Tethered Profilers operated along the northern and eastern boundaries from October 2018 through August 2019 drifting with the ice cover, along with two systems inside the Beaufort Gyre. The mixed layer on average was 2 g/kg saltier and approximately 10 m deeper than waters inside the Beaufort Gyre, and Pacific Summer Water was more than 1°C colder. In December, a parcel with Beaufort Gyre water properties was observed outside of the gyre north of 80°N. Anomalous properties were observed in the mixed layer and Pacific water layers in two different ITP systems. Turbulent heat fluxes to the ice cover were elevated compared with typical winter fluxes when fast ice speeds were coincident with this anomalous water mass. We explore the extent to which Pacific Summer Water heat can be more easily entrained into the mixed layer after it is advected into the weaker stratification poleward of the Beaufort Gyre.