I . INTRODUCTION 



Two surveys were conducted in the East Siberian and Laptev Seas, 

 one during 1963 and the other during 1964 to study summer oceanographic 

 conditions. 



The Laptev and East Siberian Seas lie north of Siberia over the 

 broad, shallow continental shelf on the periphery of the Arctic Basin 

 (Fig. 1). They represent two of the marginal seas formed in the 

 division of the north Siberian continental shelf by peninsulas and 

 islands. 



Both seas are characterized by average depths of less than 100 

 meters (330 feet) and, as a consequence, large surface areas in relation 

 to their total volumes. The combined runoff of Siberian rivers received 

 by these seas and the seas' large surface to volume ratios make them 

 effective in influencing surface water conditions in the Arctic Basin 

 (Sater, 1963). 



Ice coverage is typical of the East Siberian and Laptev Seas 

 during most of the year. Open water may be found in the northern 

 regions of both seas during the summer, but the principal ice-free 

 area is near the Siberian coast. A wedge-shaped region of open water, 

 beginning west of the New Siberian Island group and narrowing eastward 

 toward Wrangel Island, is a usual summer feature. This large ice- 

 free area is most likely the result of river outflow from the Siberian 

 mainland (Zubov, 1963). 



Seven large rivers add relatively high temperature, fresh water 

 to the two seas . 



II. NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS 



The first of the two surveys was conducted in August-September 

 1963 by USCGC NORTHWIND (W-AGB 282) in cooperation with the Naval 

 Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) . During this operation, 180 oceanographic 

 stations were occupied over a period of 33 days in the western Chukchi, 

 East Siberian, and Laptev Seas (Figs. 2 and 3). The second survey 

 was conducted in August-September 1964 by USS BURTON ISLAND (AGB 1) 

 also in cooperation with NAVOCEANO. During this operation, 74 oceanographic 

 stations were occupied over a period of 76 days in the East Siberian 

 Sea with 62 of the stations occupied in the last month (Fig. 4). 

 Stations 13 through 17 were occupied in the Chukchi Sea and are not 

 included in Figure 4. 



Scientific personnel aboard NORTHWIND included seven NAVOCEANO 

 personnel, one undergraduate and two graduate students from the 

 University of Washington, one graduate student from the University 

 of Southern California, and one Weather Bureau representative. The 

 scientific party aboard BURTON ISLAND consisted of seven NAVOCEANO 

 representatives and two University of Washington graduate students. 



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