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Transcript of The North Atlantic Ocean and Climate Observing System Stuart A. Cunningham Scottish Association for...
The North Atlantic Ocean and Climate Observing System
Stuart A. CunninghamScottish Association for Marine Science
Barbara Berx1, Eleanor Frajka-Williams2 and Mark Inall3
1Marine Laboratory Science, Aberdeen,2National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, 3SAMS.
MASTS ASM, Herriot Watt, August 2013
The strategic focus for MASTS Deep Sea Research
1. Sustained observations of the varying and evolving ocean circulation.2. Analysis and interpretations of observations for comparison with
climate models.3. Focused field experiments to understand ocean processes not resolved
in coupled climate models so these processes may be better represented in models.
This will rely on:• New Technologies (platforms, sensors, power).• Enhancement of sustained observation programmes (in time, space
and parameters).• Multi-disciplinary teams of brilliant scientists focused on strategic
research issues.
Definition of ocean circulation: Physical, chemical and biological properties (currents, temperature, salinity, sea-surface level, oxygen, nitrate, carbon dioxide, phytoplankton etc.)
Sustained Observations of the Varying and Evolving Ocean
Strategic focus of MASTS deep-seas research must be to observe the patterns of climate change in the ocean, to interpret the observations to understand the process of climate change and to improve our ability to accurately predict the course of climate change globally and regionally.
1. Long time series establish the amplitude and variability on sub-annual, seasonal and inter-annual timescales against which climate change on decadal timescales can be assessed.
2. Monitoring establishes the spatial pattern of decadal changes which are essential for assessing the mechanisms of change.
3. Comparing spatial pattern of change of model predictions with and without anthropogenic forcing establishes whether the decadal changes are the result of natural variability or anthropogenically driven change.
Ocean State Estimation
Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO)
Aim: to produce increasingly accurate syntheses of all available global-scale ocean and sea-ice data at resolutions that start to resolve ocean eddies and other narrow current systems, which transport heat, carbon, and other properties within the ocean.
• MIT OGCM• 0.3-1° resolution• 1993-now
1. Monthly, 10-day, daily or 12-hourly ocean model state, adjusted forcing fields and mixing coefficients.
Atlantic-Nordic/Arctic Ocean Inflows & Outflows
• Atlantic Inflows to the Nordic Seas (e.g. FSC, Marlab)
• Atlantic Outflows (FBC, Iceland Ridge, Denmark Strait, Davis Strait)
Lab Sea Exit ArrayLine W @ 35°NRAPID @ 26.5°NMOVE @ 16°NSAMOC @ 35°S
From 1996
Since 2004
Deep Western Boundary Current Flux Arrays
Sustained Observations of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at 26.5°N
2004-2021
The RAPID array at 26.5°N
Cunningham, S. A. et al. (2007). "Temporal variability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at 26.5°N." Science 317(17 Aug 2007): 935-938.
Sub-Tropical Atlantic Ocean Heat Content
Cunningham, S. A., et al., (2013). "Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation slowdown causes widespread cooling in the Atlantic." Geophys. Res. Letters submitted.
Slowing of the AMOC
1.6 to 2.7 Sv slowdown
Smeed, McCarthy and Cunningham 2013: Slowing of the AMOC, Ocean Sci. Discussion, submitted.
Ocean Observatories Initiative2014 to 2039
http://oceanobservatories.org
Irminger Sea Node
1. Air-sea fluxes of heat, moisture and momentum.
2. Physical, biological and chemical properties throughout the water column.
3. Geophysical observations made on the sea-floor.
1. Horizontally fixed platforms (moorings).2. Moored profilers to sample the full water column.3. Mobile platforms (gliders) for spatial and temporal
sampling capabilities.
Observing the Sub-Polar North Atlantic Programme2013-2018
The OSNAP line, comprising: (A) German 53°N western boundaryarray and Canadian shelf-break array; (B) US West Greenland boundary array;(C) US/UK East Greenland boundary array; (D) Netherlands western Mid-Atlantic Ridge array; (E) US eastern Mid-Atlantic Ridge array; (F) UK glidersurvey (yellow) over the Rockall-Hatton Plateau and Rockall Trough; (G) UKRockall Trough and Scottish Slope Current array. Red dots: US float launchsites. Blue star: US OOI Irminger Sea global node. Black concentric circles:US sound sources.
Fluxes Across Sloping Topography of the North East Atlantic
The use of multiple AUVs in FASTNEt: a study of Ocean Shelf ExchangeMark Inall
Standard Glider Pairs
+ Turbulence Glider
+ AutoSub Long Range (planned)
Internal tide generation at the shelf break
And decay and mixing on shelf
Exchange drainage in the bottom boundary
Summary
Deep Seas needs to have a motivating strategic focus
1. Sustained Observations2. Analysis and interpretation (for understanding and to compare
to climate models)3. Focused field experiments/process studies
Opportunities:• New Technologies (platforms and sensors)• Enhancement of existing arrays (RAPID, OSNAP, OOI, Argo)• Multi-disciplinary teams of brilliant scientists
The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union 7th Framework Programme (FP7 2007-2013), under grant agreement n.308299NACLIM www.naclim.eu