As part of LOREX 79, observations of current, conductivity, temperature and depth were made for 40 days from an ice flow which drifted in the area within 1.5¿ of the north pole. Daily profiles were taken to a maximum depth of 1400 m. Observations were analyzed to give profiles of S, T and &sgr;T and of water speed and true direction. The water column was stable at all stations; density increased with depth. Observations of the under-ice mixed layer showed it to become both thinner and warmer during northward drift of the floe. Downward motion and cooling of Atlantic water advected southward were observed. Near the middle of the drift pierod th surface salinity dropped abruptly by 1%0, indicating passage into a different water mass. A rough calculation showed only small water transport over the Lomonosov Ridge where the drift track crossed it.