Preliminary results of the oceanographic cruise of USCGC NORTHWIND to the Greenland Sea, August - September 1984

This interim report describes the cruise of the Coast Guard ice breaker NORTHWIND (WAGB-282) to the continental shelf area of the Greenland Sea during August and September 1984. This cruise has been designated Arctic East 1984 (AE84), but for continuity with past cruises is also termed MIZLANT 84. The cruise had two primary objectives: (a) to map the bathymetry of the shelf between 76 N and 82 N, and (b) to conduct CTD soundings in these waters to establish the circulation and water mass structure over the troughs and shoals of the shelf. Because of very light ice conditions, both of these objectives were completely met. The NORTHWIND track covered over 6500 km (3500 miles) providing continuous depth soundings over the entire track. Over 300 CTD stations were made while on the shelf, most conducted at 10-15 km intervals in the high interest areas of the troughs, coastal region and other areas of rapidly changing bottom depth.