ICE DRIFT AND UNDER ICE CURRENTS IN THE BARENTS SEA

As part of an environmental data measurement programme in the Barents Sea, conducted by Oceanor on behalf of the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, a dedicated experiment was carried out during winter 1987-88, incorporating measurements of ocean currents under ice and ARGOS satellite tracking of ice floes. The analysis of the data from this experiment have up to date concentrated on ice drift trajectories, but features of general interest have also been found from the current measurements. The main conclusions to be drawn from the data at the present stage of analysis are 1) a strong correlation is found between ice drift and local wind 2) ice floe drift is closely coupled to the tidal current regime of the region 3)current measurements at 10m depth and below reveal no evident correlation with ice drift at frequencies away from tidal frequencies and 4) the current response at 10m and below are dominated by topographic effects and mesoscale oceanographic processes.