The Beaufort Gyre is a wind driven ocean current located in the Arctic Ocean. The gyre contains both ice and water. It accumulates fresh water by the process of melting the ice floating on the surface of the water.^[1]

[edit] Studies

The oceanographer Andrey Proshutinsky has theorized that if winds and the gyre are to weaken, high volumes of freshwater could leak out of the eastern side of the Arctic Ocean. The fresh water could leak into the Northern Atlantic Ocean, causing large impacts on ocean circulation and climate.^[2] Because accessing the Beaufort Gyre is very difficult, scientists know very little about it. It would be very difficult to access in the winter, because of the ice. During the winter, it would also be nighttime for most of the day, which would make it impossible to see without artificial light.^[1] Studies by Arthur S. Dyke and others show that if rivers increased discharges into the Beaufort Gyre, it might shift it to the right.^[3]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

• The Beaufort Gyre Exploration Project

[edit] References

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