Climatology of the Beaufort and Chukchi Sea

Coast

Martha Shulski, William Baule, Jinsheng You University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Regional Climate FactorsHigh latitude, maritime

climate regionHighly variable daylightLow temperaturesLow and under-reported

precipitation

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Regional Climate FactorsInfluence of Beaufort

High

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

http://www.helixmedia.nl/webs/mooring/currents.htm

Regional Climate FactorsInfluence of Beaufort

HighSeasonal sea ice

distribution

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

http://nsidc.org

Regional Climate FactorsInfluence of Beaufort

HighSeasonal sea ice

distributionStrong coastal – inland

gradient (temperature)

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

All “Stationary” Sitesmap

AnalysesAll QC tests passAnnual and monthly averagesAbsolutes by monthFrequency distributions

temperaturewind speedwind direction

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Comparisons: Temperature

Maritime vs. ContinentalJa

n

Feb

Mar Ap

r

May Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Annu

al

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20 Mean Monthly Temperature (°C)Wrangell IslandUmiat

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Comparisons: WindMaritime vs. Continental

Jan

Feb

Mar Ap

r

May Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 Mean Monthly Wind Speed (m/s)

Wrangell IslandUmiat

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Comparisons: Temperature

Coastal vs. Near ShoreJa

n

Feb

Mar Ap

r

May Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Annu

al

-30-25-20-15-10

-505

1015

Mean Monthly Temperature (°C)

KuparukOliktok

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Comparisons: WindCoastal vs. Near Shore

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8Mean Wind Speed (m/s)

KuparukOliktok

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Comparisons: Temperature

Shore – Inland transect

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep Oct

Nov

Dec

Annu

al

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15Mean Temperature (°C) for N - S Transect

West_DockBetty_PingoFranklin_BluffsSagwon

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Wind AnalysisAnnual Frequency Distributions

west to east

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Wind Analysis

Ave = 5.5 m/s

Wrangell Island Barrow

Ave = 5.7 m/sBeaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting

18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Wind AnalysisUmiat

Ave = 3.8 m/s

Kuparuk

Ave = 4.6 m/sBeaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting

18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Wind AnalysisDeadhorse

Ave = 5.9 m/s

Prudhoe Bay

Ave = 5.4 m/sBeaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting

18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

Wind AnalysisBarter Island

Ave = 5.9 m/s

Cape Parry

Ave = 5.4 m/sBeaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting

18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

2009 Analysis

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

2009 Monthly Temperatures

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

offshorecoast

near coastinland inland - high

west eastPrudhoe Area

2009 Monthly Temperatures

2009 Monthly Winds

offshorecoast

near coastinland inland - high

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK

west eastPrudhoe Area

2009 Monthly Winds

2009 Monthly Winds

N

W

S

E

Beaufort/Chukchi Seas Midterm Project Meeting 18 Nov, 2010 | Fairbanks, AK