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Wave-modulated Arctic Air-sea eXchanges and Turbulence

Project description

Exploring the wave climate in the Arctic Basin

Sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean has been decreasing since the beginning of the satellite era. This is an indication that open-water oceanographic processes are becoming more and more important for arctic dynamics. The presence of surface waves is the biggest difference between the open and ice-covered oceans. In this context, the EU-funded WAAXT project will explore the ocean boundary layer processes in a changing Arctic Ocean. The focus will be on near-surface turbulence and different wave processes will be targeted. Specifically, it will conduct a series of field experiments to study small-scale processes associated with this emerging wave climate. The data produced will improve our understanding of climate-scale feedbacks associated with the emerging wave climate in the Arctic Basin.

Objective

Wave-modulated Arctic Air-sea eXchanges and Turbulence (WAAXT) is a project designed to improve our understanding of ocean boundary layer processes in a changing Arctic Ocean. Sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean has been decreasing since the beginning of the satellite era, meaning that open-water, as opposed to under-ice, oceanographic processes are becoming increasingly important for Arctic dynamics. One of the most fundamental differences between the open and ice-covered oceans is the presence of surface waves. Surface waves and wave-driven processes drastically alter air-sea fluxes, upper-ocean turbulence, and the dominant dynamical balance in the upper ocean.

WAAXT will be based on a series of field experiments to study the small-scale processes associated with this emerging wave climate, with a particular focus on near-surface turbulence. Three major effects of wave processes will be targeted: 1) Modification and suppression of ice formation by wave motions and the associated elevated near-surface turbulence. 2) Physical breakup of sea ice by wave motions, and the associated contributions to the modification of air-sea fluxes, upper-ocean structure, and melt rates. 3) Interactions between wave-driven turbulence, especially breaking and Langmuir circulations, with the unique salinity-based stratification in the Arctic basin. A key aspect of these processes is their horizontal variability, which will be captured using a multi-platform approach. Experimental work will begin in a natural laboratory in the Saint Lawrence Estuary and move to the Arctic as scientific and technical capacity is developed.

The long-term goal for WAAXT is to produce the data and parameterizations needed to understand climate-scale feedbacks associated with the emerging wave climate in the Arctic basin.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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ERC-STG - Starting Grant

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2018-STG

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Host institution

INSTITUT FRANCAIS DE RECHERCHE POUR L'EXPLOITATION DE LA MER
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 000 000,00
Address
1625 ROUTE DE SAINTE ANNE ZONE INDUSTRIELLE DE LA POINTE DU DIABLE
29280 Plouzane
France

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Region
Bretagne Bretagne Finistère
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 000 000,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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