Photo of Mark Johnson

Contact Information

Institute of Marine Science
111 O'Neill
P.O. Box 757220
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Phone: (907) 474-6933
johnson@ims.uaf.edu

Mark Johnson Professor

Physical Oceanography

Affiliations

Arctic Chair in Polar Marine Science, Naval Postgraduate School. Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. 2001-2002

Specialties

The Alaska Ocean Observing System
Decadal climate variability of the Arctic region

Courses

Fall 2008

Physical Oceanography (MSL F620)
Sem: Physical Oceanography (MSL F692AE)

Research Overview

My research interests include physical oceanography of the Arctic Ocean with a focus on its general circulation and variability. My approach is analysis of historical and model data sets and use of observational methods such as moored instruments. My present focus is assessment of the ice volume of the Arctic Ocean, especially thickness along the margins, and how this may be affected by climate change.

Current Research Projects

Alaska Ocean Observing System (NOAA)
The Alaska Ocean Observing System's (AOOS, see aoos.org) mission is to provide quality processed data and use these to generate information products and model forecasts to meet the needs of stakeholders including commercial, subsistence and sport fishermen, oil and gas developers, shipping interests, Alaska Native communities, resource managers, and researchers. The AOOS products will be provided through a distributed, web-based information network and span a hierarchy of spatial scales from local to regional to hemispheric, and range temporally from real-time to seasonal and longer. The focus of this proposal is on sustainability of Alaska's vast marine resources, mitigation of impacts due to coastal erosion, and improved navigation safety and search and rescue operations. New information products developed through AOOS will be accessible and understandable and encourage growth of comprehensive knowledge of ecosystem function, form and dynamics. Such knowledge gives managers and policy makers the best information available to make informed decisions regarding the preservation of ecosystem services (i.e., foods, fuels and fibers that also provide spiritual, recreational, educational, and other nonmaterial benefits to people), the challenges of climate change induced coastal erosion, and the best strategies for navigation safety and search and rescue operations.
Water and Ice Dynamics in Cook Inlet (UA Coastal Marine Institute)
We are investigating the water and ice dynamics in Cook Inlet using satellite tracked drifting buoys, winter time satellite imagery, and a high resolution numerical model. Model results will be compared with data from buoys, ice motion, and hydrographic measurements. Our focus is to identify the temporal and spatial variability of the tide rips and validate the numerical model.

Selected Publications

Dukhovskoy, D., M. Johnson, and A. Proshutinsky. 2006. Arctic decadal variability from an idealized atmosphere-ice-ocean model. Part 1: Model description, calibration, and validation. J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 111, No. C6, C06028, 10.1029/2004JC002821.

Dukhovskoy, D., M. Johnson, and A. Proshutinsky. 2006. Arctic decadal variability from an idealized atmosphere-ice-ocean model. Part 2. Simulation of decadal oscillations. J. Geophys. Res., 111, C06029, doi:10.1029/2004JC002820.

Polyakov, I.V., G.V. Alekseev, R.V. Bekryaev, U. Bhatt, R.L. Colony, M.A. Johnson, V.P. Karklin, A.P. Makshtas, D. Walsh, and A.V. Yulin. 2002. Observationally based assessment of polar amplification of global warming. Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(18):1878.

Johnson, M.A. and I.V. Polyakov. 2001. The Laptev Sea as a source for recent Arctic Ocean salinity changes. Geophys. Res. Lett. 28(10): 2017-2020.

Polyakov, I.V. and M.A. Johnson. 2000. Arctic decadal and interdecadal variability. Geophys. Res. Lett. 27(24): 4097-4100.

Johnson, M.A, A.Y. Proshutinsky, and I.V. Polyakov. 1999. Atmospheric patterns forcing two regimes of Arctic ice-ocean circulation: A return to anticyclonic conditions? Geophys. Res. Lett. 26(11): 1621–1624.

Polyakov, I., A. Proshutinsky, and M. Johnson. 1999. Seasonal cycles in two regimes of Arctic climate. J. Geophys. Res. 104(c11): 25,761-25,788.

Proshutinsky, A., I.V. Polyakov, and M. Johnson. 1999. Climate states and variability of Arctic ice and water dynamics during 1946-1997. Polar Res. 18(2): 135-142.

Spiesberger, J., H. Hurlburt, M. Johnson, M. Keller, S. Meyers, and J. O’Brian. 1998. Acoustic thermometry data compared with two ocean models: The importance of Rossby waves and ENSO in modifying the ocean interior, Dynamics of Atmos. S. Oceans (24)4: 209–240.

Proshutinsky, A.Y. and M.A. Johnson. 1997. Two circulation regimes of the wind-driven Arctic Ocean. J. Geophys. Res. 102(C9 June 15): 12493–12514.

Topp, R. and M. Johnson. 1997. Winter intensification and water mass evolution from yearlong current meters in the Northeast Water Polynya. J. Mar. Sys. 10: 157–173.

Meyers, S.D., M. A. Johnson, M. Liu, J.J. O’Brien, and J. L. Spiesberger. 1996. Interdecadal Variability in a Numerical Model of the Northeast Pacific Ocean: 1970–89. Phys. Oceanogr. 26(12): 2635–2652.