Abstract:
The oceanography of McMurdo Sound was investigated by collecting current meter data, water samples, ice cores, under ice turbulence and Conductivity (salinity)-Temperature-Depth (CTD) profiles of the full depth of the water column were collected along an east to west transect across the sound. At each site, approximately 5 kms apart, a hole was drilled in the ice, observations of temperature,
... salinity and current turbulence were recorded. Two fixed moorings were deployed at each end of the traverse line for the period of the traverse to provide reference points for the oceanographic observations. Isotope measurements were taken from water samples collected from 10m and 200m at each transect site. Additional cores were sectioned and viewed under cross-polarised light in order to determine the ice structure. It is intended that the research carried out here will in time be able to be applied to a much wider Antarctic marine environment and consequently lead to a greater understanding of the relationship between the sea ice and the underlying ocean. The CTD profiles will be used to describe the water column structure of the sound and to investigate spatial variability in distribution of water masses, particularly Ice Shelf Water (ISW). Comparison with platelet ice abundance measurements from ice cores collected from the same sites will help to identify a causal link between flow of ISW, formation of frazil ice in the water column, and deposition of platelet ice as a method of sea-ice growth. 
