Investigation of Degrading Permafrost and Gas Hydrate beneath the Beaufort Shelf, Arctic

Abstract

The Korea Polar Institute (KOPRI) is engaged in a long-term collaborative research program in the southern Beaufort Sea with the Geological Survey of Canada/Natural Resources Canada (GSC), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) with participation by bremen University (BARUM). The ongoing focus is research activities on the Korean ic breaker IBRV Araon to investigate geological processes related to degrading permafrost, fluid flow and degassing, seismostratigraphy, and associated geohazards, of the Beaufort shelf and slope region. In addition, physical and chemical oceanography measurements of the Arctic Ocean were undertaken with linked atmospheric studies form the vessel. The expedition focused on two main research areas in the Canadian Beaufort Sea: the central shelf and slope areas offshore of the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula and areas offshore of the Mackenzie Trough area.