ABSTRACT 



An experiment to investigate the directional nature and tiie 

 possible generation mechanisms for waves on the Arctic 

 Ocean, an ocean almost entirely covered with sea ice, is de- 

 scribed. The waves under consideration have periods 

 between 10 and 100 seconds and amplitudes between 0.001 

 and 2.0 centimeters. These waves have been previously ob- 

 served with gravimeters and seismographs and have been 

 described in the literature. 



In the present work an array of two continuously recording 

 gravimeters 1,240m apart was established at drift station 

 ARLIS II. The records obtained were examined by cross- 

 spectrum analysis techniques. Observed waves with distinct 

 periods were associated with a storm over Siberia. 



A continuously recording microbarograph sensitive to atmos- 

 pheric micropressure oscillations in the 10- to 100-second 

 period range was also installed at ARLIS II. Distinct oscilla- 

 tions were observed in this period range having amplitudes 

 of from 20 to 400 dynes/cml Power spectra of micro- 

 pressure records made before, during, and after a storm show 

 that the oscillation amplitude is proportional to the period of 

 the oscillation and speed of local winds. Cross -correlation 

 between the micropressure records and wave records taken 

 with a gravimeter at the same location as the microbarograph 

 shows a positive correlation between the micropressure waves 

 and the ocean waves. This correlation appears to vary with 

 the direction of the local surface wind and may be related to 

 the orientation of pressure ridges in the ice pack. Although 

 the nature of the micropressure oscillations could not be de- 

 termined with only the one sensor used, the oscillations were 

 assumed to be progressive waves. These waves contained 

 sufficient force to bend the ice and generate the observed 

 water waves. 



