Cape Adare Long Term Moorings (CALM): Analysis Phase
- Lead PI: Mr. Bruce A. Huber , Professor Arnold L. Gordon
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Unit Affiliation: Ocean and Climate Physics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)
- June 2012 - May 2015
- Inactive
- Antarctica
- Project Type: Research
DESCRIPTION:
Time series data, from ocean moorings, on key aspects of evolving ocean properties are of considerable importance in assessing the condition of the ocean system. They are needed, for example, their understand how the oceans are warming, and how they continue to uptake greenhouse gases such as CO2.
The Cape Adare Long Term Mooring (CALM) program goal was to observe the bottom water export from the Ross Sea to the deep ocean. To accomplish this two instrumented moorings were set on the continental slope off Cape Adare (western Ross Sea, Antarctica), positioned to capture the export of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), some of the coldest and densest water found in the global ocean. Data records for the moorings spans over some four years in this very remote part of the ocean. The CALM analysis will address some specific objectives:
- Characterize the temperature, salinity and current variability associated with the Ross Sea AABW export.
- Examine the linkages between observed variability to regional tides, atmosphere and sea ice forcing.
- Relate the Ross Sea AABW export fluctuations to the larger scale climate system dynamics, such as ENSO and SAM, and to AABW formation along other margins of Antarctica, e.g. the Weddell Sea