The science program of the FRAM experiments in the Eastern Arctic Ocean

The experiments of the FRAM program were located in the Pole and Nansen Abyssal Plains of the eastern Arctic Ocean. During the four year span (1979-1982) of the series primarily sponsored by ONR, extensive experiments in physical oceanography, ocean acoustics and marine geophysics were conducted from a series of drifting, manned ice stations by scientists from the U.S., Canada and Norway. The physical oceanography measurements included C/STD profiles and transects, water sampling and current meter profiles. The acoustics of long range, low frequency propagation with both explosive and coherent sources, transoceanic basin backscattering, ambient noise and its ice generation mechanisms were studied. In the geophysical experiments seismic reflection and refraction, bathymetric soundings, heat flow, gravity and coring were done. Conducting these experiments in the Arctic required some creative approaches and opportunities not only as a result of the cold but more importantly the near continuous ice cover. The geophysical and acoustics experiments centered upon two dimensional, multichannel hydrophone arrays and ocean bottom seismometers. The physical oceanography program covered extensive areas by helicopter using portable CTD profilers. The data set gathered over the four years is the most extensive available from this part of the Arctic Ocean. This paper gives an overview of the technology used for the FRAM science program and representative results of some of the investigations. The logistics of the staging and conducting the experiments are covered in a companion paper [Hielscher, 1985].