The Oden 91 North Pole expedition obtained oceanographic measurements
on four sections in the Nansen and Amundsen basins of the Eurasian Bas
in and in the Makarov Basin of the Canadian Basin, thereby proving the
feasibility of carrying out a typical oceanographic program using an
icebreaker in the Arctic Ocean. The data show greater spatial variabil
ity in water structure and circulation than was apparent from previous
data. The results show that a clear front exists between the Eurasian
and Canadian basins such that upper halocline water in the Canadian B
asin is almost absent from the Eurasian Basin. The lower halocline wat
er produced in the Barents-Kara Sea region permeates much of the Euras
ian Basin and flows along the continental slope into the Canadian Basi
n. The deeper circulation is strongly influenced by topography. Three
return flows of the Atlantic layer are identified, one over the Nansen
-Gakkel Ridge, one over the Lomonosov Ridge, and a third flowing from
the Canadian Basin. The slight differences observed in salinity and te
mperature characteristics of the deeper waters of the Nansen and Amund
sen basins do not lead to an obvious explanation of their origin or fl
ow pattern.