Greenland Sea, Denmark Strait, Fram Strait, Norwegian Sea

Uptake of other nutrients in the water column; Salinity of the water column; Temperature of the water column

CTD

The ESOP2 project was devoted to studying the processes of deep-water formation in the Greenland Sea. The project was started in 1996 as a continuation of the ESOP-1 project (Which in turn was a continuation of the Greenland Sea Project), by several European Partners. In August 1996 320 kg of the inert tracer sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) was released in the centre of the Greenland sea gyre (74.6N-75.7N, 4.2W-1.0E), at the 28.049 iso-pycnal. Along with the tracer, several RAFOS floats were released, both before and after. Since then the spreading of the tracer has been monitored by regular cruises, collecting both hydrography, SF6, I-129, Halocarbons, and nutrients. 2971 station observations, a number of which included chemical measurements, were collected during 54 cruises. The project has so far provided extensive insight into processes of deep-water formation, however data collection and interpretation is still ongoing. The study of physical ocean processes in the gyre, has been backed by a Carbon Cycle team, Modellers, and a sea-ice study and monitoring programme.

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