Oceanography of the Arctic Seas

Arctic oceanography has progressed during recent years in much the same manner as in the more temperate seas. There has been a great emphasis on current measurements [e.g., cf. Aagaard and Coachman , 1975], considerable interest in the upper boundary layer and in fine structure [e.g., cf. Smith , 1972; Neal and Neshyba , 1973], and notable expansion of and improved capability in field and measurement techniques. The frequent presence of an ice cover, while a major operational liability in certain respects, also proves a major asset in providing an extensive stable platform. While our understanding of the arctic seas has on the whole increased significantly in the last 4 years, a major gap exists in the Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean; there we do not even have an adequate mapping of the large‐scale temperature and salinity fields, we have no current measurements, and we can only hypothesize the important processes. A recent summary of the physical oceanography of the arctic seas has been written by Coachman and Aagaard [1974].