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Our work seeks to improve our understanding of the Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA) hydrographic spatial structure and temporal variability, starting with a characterization of the freshwater in the NGA via quantitative analysis. If we can successfully improve characterization of small features of the NGA hydrographic cycle, such as the Copper River Plume, the better we can improve the accuracies of micronutrient (iron) models for the NGA. If we can successfully improve characterization of coastal freshwater influx as a whole, then we can improve our understanding of large features of the NGA hydrographic cycle, such as the Alaska Coastal Current. The NGA experiences intense environmental variability, potentially leading to high resilience in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Knowing how resilient is crucial, as climate change has the potential to dramatically alter high latitude systems, for example via the timing of the spring blooms. Therefore, the better we can characterize the system, the greater relevance our models will have to scientists, resource managers, and policymakers.