Ocean freshwater fluxes through the Canadian archipelago (CAT)

Summary: Water accumulates in the Arctic via precipitation, rivers and inflow through Bering Strait. The Canadian Archipelago provides the Arctic Ocean with one of two routes to return water to the Atlantic Ocean. It is therefore an important link in the global cycle of fresh-water. The purpose of this project is to determine how much water flows here and explore what drives the flow. The movements of freshwater are important for regulating ocean salinity, temperature, ecosystems and carbon cycling. How the system works and shifts with climate change are central to this project. The study is accomplished by measuring ocean characteristics such as current, ice thickness, ice drift, salinity, temperature and sea level, and also weather conditions (particularly wind) at key location in the Canadian Archipelago.