Ice drift in the Beaufort Sea observed by drifting buoys

As part of the BREA project GPS buoys were air dropped onto ice floes and extreme ice features to observe the drift of the ice. The results will improve understanding of how sea ice moves in response to winds and currents, and will contribute to the development of tools to predict ice drift. Increased understanding of sea ice will contribute to better planning in the region and improve the safety of operations in the Beaufort Sea, most notably for regulators and industry contemplating offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling. Data have been contributed to the International Arctic Buoy Programme which maintains a network of drifting buoys in the Arctic Ocean.