DAMOCLES 2008-2011 - Hamburg Arctic Ocean Buoy Drift Experiment: meteorological measurements of 9 autonomous drifting ice buoys

Project: Field Data of the Meteorological Institute, University of Hamburg - The Physical Meteorology Division of the Meteorological Institute is regularly conducting or taking part in field experiments with strong focus on high latitudes. Measurements are performed by aircraft, radiosondes or buoys and at land, ship and ice stations. Published data sets incorporate aircraft measurements of turbulent fluxes and standard meteorological parameters of high temporal and spatial resolution. These measurements are supported by frequent radiosonde ascents and station and ship data in the according region. Another group of data sets consists of measurements by autonomous buoys of different complexity on sea ice and ocean. Summary: The field experiment DAMOCLES 2008 (Hamburg Arctic Ocean Buoy Drift Experiment DAMOCLES 2008-2009) consisted of the deployment and tracking of 9 drifting autonomous ice buoys in the Arctic Ocean. Seven buoys were deployed in the Canadian sector of the Arctic Ocean in late April 2008. Two more buoys were deployed in the Beaufort Sea and in the Laptev Sea in September and October 2008. The platforms report position, atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity, wind speed and ice temperature at 3-hourly time steps. The last two buoys additionally report wind direction. The aim of the experiment was to study the Atmosphere-Ice-Ocean interaction, especially the impact of cyclones on the formation and transport of sea ice. DAMOCLES 2008 and its predecessor DAMOCLES 2007 are a contribution to European integrated project DAMOCLES (Developing Arctic Modeling and Observing Capabilities for Long-term Environmental Studies) which is funded by the European Union. DAMOCLES is a contribution to IPY 2007-2008 (International Polar Year).