Western Arctic Observations
The early explorers of the western Arctic did not go with the intention of collecting ocean or weather data, but in the course of their journeys they collected many useful observations, and their notes form the first record of the area. Later explorations in the Arctic were more focused on gathering data as nations realized the importance of understanding the region for scientific, strategic and political purposes.
Here we highlight three chapters in the history of exploration and data gathering in the western Arctic.
The search for the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Archipelago was driven by economic forces and provided the first maps of the area.
The establishment of drifting stations in the western Arctic by the United States was initially undertaken to collect meteorological data for the Air Force and Navy, but the program evolved to support a wide range of scientific research.
Finally, the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line was established by the United States and Canada at the height of the cold war as a defense against air attack. There were very few stations for meteorological observations across northern North America prior to the construction of the DEW Line.