Project summary:

Mesoscale weather patterns and associated surface winds are important for evaluating dispersal and movement of oil spills and, in turn, assessing oil spill environmental impacts, as wind is the primary parameter driving ocean currents and sea ice motion. The Beaufort Sea and its adjacent continental areas are prominent geographical features which are largely covered by sea ice on a seasonal basis over the ocean and bounded by the Brooks Range in the south on land. The complex orographic dynamics and coast-ocean thermal contrast significantly complicate mesoscale weather systems and associated surface winds in this region. In addition, this area has been exhibiting great variability and change in sea ice, atmospheric, and oceanic conditions, which may further complicate the atmospheric circulation, underlying surface thermal conditions, and associated surface wind field. In this study, we will investigate the mesoscale weather patterns and associated surface wind field features in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent continental areas.

The approach for this study is: (1) to collect both conventional and unconventional observational data and perform a data analysis to delineate mesoscale weather systems in the area; (2) to employ the existing state-of-the-art mesoscale meteorological models and conduct experimental simulations to evaluate model performance and to improve understanding of the impacts of model configuration and data assimilation methodology; and (3) to synthetically analyze observational and modeling data to elucidate the effects of physical processes (e.g. orographic dynamics and land-ocean thermal contrast) on formation, development, and spatial distribution of mesoscale features of weather systems and surface winds.

Publications:

Simulating Beaufort Sea coastal wind events using MM5 and WRF. Presented at the Great Alaska Weather Modeling Symposium in Fairbanks, March 13-15, 2007.
  Abstract (PDF)   Presentation (PDF)

Initial evaluation of real-time weather forecasts for the Beaufort Sea Region, Alaska. Presented at the Association of American Geographers 103rd Annual Meeting, San Fransisco, CA, April 17-21, 2007.
  Abstract (PDF)   Poster (PPT)

Modeling the Beaufort Sea coastal wind regime using WRF. Presented at the Ninth Conference on Polar Meteorology and Oceanography in St. John's, Newfoundland, May 28-June 1, 2007.
  Abstract (PDF)   Poster (PPT)

A study of the effects of data assimilation on mesoscale meteorological modeling in the Beaufort Sea region. Presented at the Seventh Conference on Coastal Atmospheric and Oceanic Prediction Processes in San Diego, CA, September 10-13, 2007.
  Abstract (PDF)   Presentation (PDF)

Assimilating QuikSCAT SeaWinds with WRF model for high latitude wind simulation. Presented at the 2007 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, CA, December 10-14, 2007.
  Abstract (PDF)   Poster (PPT)

The influence of sea ice and topography on the wind regime of the Beaufort Sea Coast. Presented at the 2007 AGU Meeting in San Francisco, CA, December 10-14, 2007.
  Abstract (PDF)   Poster (PPT)

Beaufort Sea coastal wind regime study from observations and model simulations. Presented at the 2008 Alaska Marine Science Symposium in Anchorage, AK, January 20-23, 2008.
  Abstract (PDF)   Poster (PPT)

Contact Information:

Jeremy Krieger (webmaster)

Geophysical Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks
903 Koyukuk Dr., P.O. Box 757320
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320

Phone: 907-474-1845
E-mail: jeremy@gi.alaska.edu

This project is funded by the U.S. Minerals Management Service (contract #0106CT39787) . The project team would like to acknowledge the Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA) for developing the communication forum and framework for this website.