NACLIM Deliverable D22.8
Deliverable title
Report on the technical characteristic of the observing systems operated in NACLIM
south of the sills
WP No.
WP2.2
WP title
Transports in the Subpolar Gyre
Work duration1) 18
X
Lead beneficiary:
GEOMAR, Johannes Karstensen
Due delivery deadline: 30 April 2014
Actual delivery date:
30 April 2014
R= report
P= prototype
Nature of the
deliverable
D= demonstrator
O= Other
X
PU = public
PP= restricted to other programme participants, including the Commission services
Dissemination
level
RE= restricted to a group specified by the consortium, including the Commission
services
CO= confidential, only for members of the consortium, including the Commission
services
1) Work duration = project month
Lead beneficiary:
GEOMAR
Other contributing
partners:
MRI
NIOZ
SAMS
Jürgen Fischer, Johannes Karstensen, Taavi
Liblik, Martin Visbeck
Hedinn Valdimarsson, Steingrimur Jonsson
Laura de Steur
Clare Johnson, Stuart Cunningham
NACLIM project is financed by the European Commission
through the 7th Framework Programme for Research
Theme 6 Environment
Grant Agreement 308299
Page 1
Index
1. Executive summary ....................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Project objectives .......................................................................................................................................... 4
3. Detailed report on the deliverable .................................................................................................................. 4
1
The ocean observing system ..................................................................................................................... 4
2
Description of observing system components exploited within NACLIM ..................................................... 6
3
The NACLIM observing system.................................................................................................................. 8
4
Links to other international programmes .................................................................................................. 28
4. References .................................................................................................................................................. 30
5. Dissemination and uptake ........................................................................................................................... 30
6. The delivery is delayed:  Yes  No ....................................................................................................... 31
7. Changes made and difficulties encountered, if any ...................................................................................... 31
8. Efforts for this deliverable ............................................................................................................................ 31
9. Sustainability ............................................................................................................................................... 31
10. Dissemination activities ............................................................................................................................. 33
Appendix A. Contact details for components of the observing system operated by, or exploited by, NACLIM . 34
Appendix B. Websites of programmes linked to NACLIM ................................................................................ 37
Page 2
1. Executive summary
The climate prediction systems analysed within NACLIM have essentially two expectations on observational
data: (1) Providing data for the initialization of the predictions systems and (2) providing data and data products
for the validation of the prediction systems.
The initialization makes use of a variety of data obtained by satellite remote sensing as well as by in-situ
platforms. Sea-surface temperature is to be seen as one critical component in the initialization (see also Core
theme 3) and the international “Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature” (GHRSST
https://www.ghrsst.org/) is providing critical expertise here. Interior ocean initialization is based on
heterogeneous in-situ data that is made publicly available, as such the data streams from the observations to
the model initialization is a major issue in NACLIM and beyond NACLIM.
The validation of the climate prediction systems is based on highly sophisticated arrays of in-situ observations,
designed to observe components of the ocean circulation that are potentially susceptible to the oceanic
response on climate change. These systems combine a suite of different instrumentation. The key areas for
operating these systems for the benefit of the NACLIM scientific objective are the:

Overflow regions within the Greenland-Scotland Ridge system (Denmark Strait and Faroe Shetland
Channel),

the Deep Western Boundary Current, where the lower branch of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning
Circulation (AMOC) is seen as a confined flow,

and finally basin wide observations at specific latitudes where all compartments (upper and lower) of
the flow are monitored in a continuous way (RAPID array, OSNAP array).
Data collection is performed from a variety of observational platforms (ships, robotics) which all have different
capabilities and limitations associated to them. Here we present the status of the in-situ observing platforms
that are key contributions to the NACLIM climate prediction system – for initialization as well as its validation. A
brief general overview of the key observational network and the organizational structure of the observations via
the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is presented and followed by the detailed description of
observations explored within NACLIM.
Originally this deliverable was supposed to deal with the observing systems operated in NACLIM and located
south of the sill. During its preparation, we have decided to broaden the scope of this deliverable and to include
the observing system operated and exploited by NACLIM located above and south of the sill.
Page 3
2. Project objectives
With this deliverable, the project has contributed to the achievement of the following objectives (see DOW
Section B.1.1):
No.
Objective
Yes
Assessing the predictability and quantifying the uncertainty in forecasts of the North X
Atlantic/Arctic Ocean surface state
2. Assessing the atmospheric predictability related to the North Atlantic/Arctic Ocean
surface state
3. Monitoring of volume, heat and fresh water transports across key sections in the
North Atlantic
4. Quantifying the benefit of the different ocean observing system components for the
initialization of decadal climate predictions
5. Establishing the impact of an Arctic initialization on the forecast skill in the North
Atlantic/European sector
6. Quantifying the impact of predicted North Atlantic upper ocean state changes on the
oceanic ecosystem
7. Quantifying the impact of predicted North Atlantic upper ocean state changes on
socioeconomic systems in European urban societies
8. Providing recommendations for observational and prediction systems
x
9. Providing recommendations for predictions of the oceanic ecosystem
10. Disseminating the key results to the climate service community and relevant endusers/stakeholders
11. Constructing a dataset for sea surface and sea ice surface temperatures in the Arctic
No
1.
3. Detailed report on the deliverable
1 The ocean observing system
Ocean processes operate indistinct on multiple time and space scales (Fig. 1). In contrast, ocean observing
systems (e.g. moorings, surface drifter, Argo floats) have limited sampling behaviour and provide only data in
certain time and space scales. In order to ensure comprehensive -that is four dimensions and multiple
disciplines- ocean observations a combination of multiple observing platforms is required. However, most
observational efforts are designed around specific scientific problems. An experimental setup was carefully
selected which is optimized to survey the space and time scales associated with a certain problem.
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It is obvious that coordinating the side-by-side, but independently operating, observational efforts to create a
consolidated observing system, has the potential to generate added value and to save resources and costs.
The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is an attempt to internationally coordinate the many observatory
efforts that are undertaken through national and international initiatives. GOOS is sponsored by the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) and is a contributing element to the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS),
sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the IOC, the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). GCOS also include terrestrial,
atmospheric, and space borne observations (e.g. satellites). GCOS is supported by and supports the
international scientific community.
Figure 1: Time and space scales of ocean processes (after Ruhl et al. 2011). The most relevant segment for
NACLIM is indicated by the grey square.
The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) co-sponsors the expert panels set up by GCOS for the
atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains. The composite observing system designated as GCOS serves
as the climate-observation component of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
Page 5
The NACLIM observing system is designed towards an optimal sampling of processes that are dedicative for
interannual to decadal variabilityand as such is a contribution to GCOS. The observing systems that are
supported by NACLIM collect data to estimate the transport and properties of the Overflow waters and data on
the water mass transformation and overturning in the convection centres in the Labrador Sea and the Irminger
Sea. Moreover, observational efforts that are maintained by other projects or programs are explored within
NACLIM. This group includes hydrography and circulation pathways derived from Argo drifter data as well as
all kind of remotely sensed properties (e.g. sea surface temperature, sea level anomaly). Other projects that
are a significant contribution to NACLIM are the RAPID-MOCHA array, providing an estimate of the overturning
circulation
at
26°N,
and
the
RACE
project
Regional
Atlantic
Circulation
and
Global
Change
http://race.zmaw.de/, that supports the surveys of the Deep Western Boundary Current at the southern exit of
the Labrador Sea (53°N array). Lastly, an emerging effort that will profit as well as contribute to the NACLIM
observing efforts is the “Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program” (OSNAP).
2 Description of observing system components exploited within
NACLIM
Before we provide a detailed description of the observing systems operated under NACLIM some general
information about the systems and their operation as part of the international GOOS are provided. This
observatory overview includes Argo floats, surface drifter, observations of ships of opportunity (SOP), the GOSHIP hydrography, and moorings organized trough the OceanSITES network.
2.1 Argo (http://www.argo.ucsd.edu/)
The global array of temperature and salinity profiling floats (Argo) has grown to be a major component of
GOOS. Argo has been originally designed to estimate the ocean heat content in the upper 2000m and
between 60°N and 60°S. White (1994) determined that a global array of platforms that measure the
temperature in the upper 2000m meters with a horizontal resolution of 3° x 3° would be required to resolve the
seasonal evolution of the upper layer heat content. This sampling is realized with an array of about 3000 floats
evenly distributed over the global ocean. To ensure sustainability, and considering the nominal lifetime of 3.8
years per float, every year about 800 new floats need to be deployed globally. Floats typically drift in 1000m
depth and profile every 10 days from 2000m depths to the surface. The core program includes temperature
and salinity, as well as the 10 days average current at the parking depth. The vertical resolution of the profile
varies between 5m (close to the surface) and 50m. The floats cannot be navigated and rely on ocean currents.
Oceanic convergence/divergence regions can be identified and may result in regional over/under sampling.
The Argo Information Centre (AIC), which is part of the JCOMMOPS, provides the international coordination of
the project. The European Argo community is coordinated under the Euro-Argo ESFRI program.
Data flow
The data is transmitted in near-real time via satellite communication (e.g. ARGOS, Iridium) and linked to
dedicated Argo data assembly centers (Argo DACs – USA, Canada, Japan, Europe). Real-time and delayed
Page 6
mode data quality control is performed at the DACs following standardized protocols. The data is provided for
free via the internet and in a standardized netCDF based format.
2.2 Glider (www.ego-network.org)
Glider are flexible, autonomous systems which are particularly useful to connect the large scale Argo drifter
surveys of the open ocean with coastal observing needs. The gliders typically survey the upper 1000m over a
period of several months recoding hydrographic but also ecosystem relevant data. European glider activities
are currently coordinated in the GROOM project, as well as, for coastal applications in the JERICO project. A
COST Action (EGO, Nr. ES0940) finances in addition networking aspects, including some international
collaboration. These projects have generated a rather well organized network and a number of concepts for
the data harmonization, best practises, interoperability, data flow, as well as data exchange and harmonization
of observing infrastructure are part of the activities.
Data flow
Concepts and applications exist that ensure that the real-time glider data is feed into the global DAC (such as
CORIOLIS, NODC), and is made accessible via the Global Telecommunication System.
2.3 GO-SHIP & Hydrographic surveys
Full depth and multi-parameter sampling from dedicated research vessels provide important multidisciplinary
data. The data coverage below 2000m that is not surveyed with most other systems is of enormous value for
long term deep water studies, initializing of models or large scale ventilation issues (incl. uptake of
anthropogenic carbon). Moreover, the data is considered as ground-truth data and of use for intercalibrations
with autonomously operating systems. Coordination is done in part via the Global Ocean Ship-based
Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP) either as a full cruise or following the GO-SHIP best
practises.
Data flow
There is no automatized data flow from research vessels but many vessels are equipped and advised to
provide collected data in near real time (e.g. see data transmission to the CORIOLIS data centre). The GOSHIP panel for instance recommends the following data-release guidelines: preliminary dataset released within
6 weeks (e.g. all data measured on the ship), 6 months for final physical data and 1 year for final data of all
other variables. Data from research ships has traditionally been collected to national oceanographic data
centers (NODCs), regional centres, like ICES and PICES and to global data centers. On European level the
systems for making data available has been developed within SeaDataNet. The SeaDataNet infrastructure is
the basis for European Commissions EMODnets.
Page 7
2.4 OceanSITES Moorings (www.jcommops.org/dbcp/)
Moored observatories are coordinated in subgroups of the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP), which is part
of JCOMMOPS Moored systems acquire observations at fixed locations in variable vertical resolution.
Moorings can deliver temporally high-resolution data and the variety of parameters can be quite large:
temperature, salinity, currents, but also optical sensors, nutrient analysers etc. are being used. Equipped with
surface buoys, the moorings can carry sensors to measure atmospheric data and may provide important
reference data for the global meteorological observing network from remote locations (e.g. NACLIM moorings
in convection centres, Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project such as TAO, RAMA, or PIRATA.
Transport-measuring moored arrays comprise a group of moorings that is maintained through NACLIM at a
number of locations in the overflow regions. Other array are solely exploited under NACLIM (e.g. 53°N array,
RAPID-MOCHA 26°N array) and financed through other means.
Data flow
Moorings with a surface buoy are often equipped with a satellite transmitter for near real-time access of the
data (NACLIM convection centre moorings). The real-time data is feed into the global DAC such as CORIOLIS
or NODC and is accessible via the Global Telecommunication System (GTS). Transport-measuring moored
array data is mostly delayed mode data, retrieved after the mooring recovery. Within NACLIM autonomous
data recovery options are in part developed that may give access to the data on irregular basis but without the
need to recover the moorings.
2.5 Satellite data
Different satellite products are directly or indirectly exploited within NACLIM. Sea level anomaly (SLA) data is
provided via AVISO but also different seas surface temperature products are exploited. Data access is
provided via highly sophisticated services (not further discussed here). In the framework of the international
“Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature” (GHRSST) the optimal exploitation of satellite and insitu observations for the best estimate of SST is coordinated.
3 The NACLIM observing system
The NACLIM contribution to the observing system above and south of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge
consists of three components:

moored instrument arrays

standard hydrographic sections and

glider activities.
NACLIM either fully or partly funds 11 moored arrays in this area. In addition to these, NACLIM exploits data
from a further four arrays which are funded by various other national and international programmes and
projects. These moored arrays are described in sections 3.1-3.6.
Page 8
NACLIM also partially funds four hydrographic sections, and exploits data from a further three funded by other
projects (sections 3.7-3.9). Finally, NACLIM will start exploiting data from two glider deployments planned for
the summer of 2014 (section 3.10).
3.1 Atlantic water moored arrays
NACLIM operates or exploits a large number of moored arrays within the North Atlantic Fig. 2 and Table 1).
These arrays have therefore been split into six groups: those measuring the upper Atlantic Waters (red, Fig. 2);
those monitoring the overflows over the Greenland-Scotland Ridge (blue, Fig. 2); those which monitor the cool
and fresh East Greenland Current (turquoise, Fig. 2); those which measure conditions in the deep convection
areas in the Subpolar Gyre (purple, Fig. 2); those which monitor the Deep Western Boundary Current (green,
Fig. 2); and those at 26.5 °N in the Atlantic (orange, Fig. 2).
This section discusses the moored arrays that sample Atlantic waters (red, Fig. 2) which enter the subpolar
North Atlantic via the North Atlantic Current, an extension of the northward flowing Gulf Stream. These warm
and saline waters are found in the upper 600-800 m of the water column and either recirculate around the
Subpolar Gyre or flow northwards over the Greenland-Scotland Ridge into the Nordic Seas and Arctic.
Page 9
7
5
6 1
NS
8
2
IrB
11
12
LS
4
13
9
10 3
IB
10
RT
14
15
Figure 2. Position of mooring arrays either funded by (circles) or exploited by (squares) NACLIM. See Table 1
for details. Red: arrays monitoring the upper warm and saline Atlantic Water; turquoise: arrays measuring the
cold fresh East Greenland Current; blue: arrays monitoring the cold dense overflow waters; purple: arrays
measuring the deep water formation areas in the Subpolar North Atlantic; green: arrays measuring the Deep
Western Boundary Current; and orange: arrays measuring the entire water column.
Also shown are schematic pathways of: upper currents (red and turquoise), deep overflow waters (blue) and
the Deep Western Boundary Current (green); as well as the main bathymetric features: IB: Iceland Basin; IrB:
Irminger Basin; LS: Labrador Sea; NS: Nordic Seas; RT: Rockall Trough.
Array 10 was situated at the Wyville Thomson Ridge (white circle) until August 2013. From July 2014,
however, it will be re-deployed in the western Rockall Trough (blue circle).
Page 10
Table 1. Summary of all mooring arrays funded by, or exploited by NACLIM. For array numbers see Fig. 2.
ACMs: Acoustic Current Meters; ADCPs: Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers; BPR: Bottom Pressure
Recorders; CM: Current Meters; RCMs: Rotor Current Meters
Array
No.
Location of
mooring
array
Description of array
outputs
Data
period
No.
moorings
in array
Instruments
on array
1
N. Icelandic
Shelf
Volume and heat fluxes
associated with North
Icelandic Irminger Current
1994 present
four
ADCPs,
microcats
2
N. Faroese
Shelf
Volume fluxes associated
with the Faroese Current
Jun. 1997 present
three
ADCPs, RCM,
microcats
3
Faroe
Shetland
Channel
Oct. 1994 present (1)
eight
ADCPs,
microcats,
4
W. flank
Reykjanes
Ridge
Volume, heat and salt fluxes
associated with flow
between Scotland and
Faroe Islands
Volume, heat and salt fluxes
associated with the Irminger
Current
1st
deployment
Jul. 2014 (2)
four
ADCPs,
microcats,
CMs
5
E.
Greenland
Shelf
Volume and freshwater flux
associated with East
Greenland Current
Aug. 2012 –
present (3)
four
ADCPs,
microcats
6
N. of the
Denmark
Strait (4)
Volume flux and properties
of North Icelandic Jet
Aug. 2012 present
one
ADCP,
microcats
7
Denmark
Strait
Volume transport
associated with Denmark
Strait Overflow Water
Sep. 1996 present
two
ADCP,
microcats
8
W. boundary
of Irminger
Sea (5)
Volume, heat and salt fluxes
of Denmark Strait Overflow
Water
1995 –
present
two
microcats,
RCMs
9
Faroe Bank
Channel
Volume flux associated with
Faroe Bank Channel
Overflow Water
Nov 1995 present
two
ADCP,
microcats
10
Wyville
Thomson
Ridge (6)
Volume flux associated with
Wyville Thomson Ridge
Overflow Water
Sep. 2003 –
present (7)
one
ADCP
11
Central
Irminger Sea
Aug. 2002 –
present
one
12
Central
Irminger Sea
(LOCO)
Temperature, salinity,
currents and chemical
parameters in deep
convection area
Temperature, salinity and
currents in deep convection
area
Jul. 2003 present
one
ADCPs,
microcat, CM,
chemical
sensors
ADCPs,
microcat,
profilers
13
Central
Labrador
Sea
Temperature, salinity and
currents in deep convection
area
Aug. 1996 present
one
Page 11
microcats,
RCMs,
minilogs (8)
14
15
53°N array
W. boundary
Labrador
Sea (9)
26.5 °N
array (10)
Volume transport of various
water masses (along-shore)
Jul. 1997 present
six
ADCPs,
RCMs, ACMs
Volume, heat and salt fluxes
Apr. 2004 present
26
ADCPs, CMs,
microcats,
BPRs
(1)
Oct 1994 to May 2013 on S-line (~ 60.5 °N). May 2011 to present (no data May 2012 and May 2013) on Zline (~ 60.0 °N). Both lines perpendicularly across Faroe Shetland Channel.
(2) Deployment delayed from 2013 due to lack of ship time.
(3) Data collection at site due to end in Jul. 2014.
(4) Array funded by the Iceland Centre for Research.
(5) Array currently part funded by UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
(6) In 2014 mooring will be re-deployed to measure the Wyville Thomson Ridge Overflow Water flux further
downstream in the Rockall Trough.
(7) No data between June 2009 and May 2011 (due to instrument loss) and May 2013 and summer 2014.
(8) From 2014 onwards will also host sensors from Canadian VITALS project.
(9) Array funded by the Regional Atlantic Circulation and Global Change (RACE) project awarded by the
German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF).
(10) Array funded by UK National Environment Research Council, US National Science Foundation and US
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under RAPID.
3.1.1 Greenland-Iceland Inflow (North Icelandic Irminger Current)
The flow of Atlantic Water between Greenland and Iceland occurs via a branch of the Irminger Current known
as the North Icelandic Irminger Current (no. 1, Fig. 2). This has been monitored since 1996 by four moorings
north of Iceland along the Hornbanki section (Table 1). The positions of each of these moorings, along with the
instrumentation are shown in Table 2. The moorings are maintained by the Marine Research Institute (MRI),
Iceland, and funded by NACLIM.
Table 2. Mooring positions and instruments within the Hornbanki Array north of Iceland monitoring the North
Icelandic Irminger Current (no. 1, Fig. 2). ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler.
Mooring
i.d.
HB 1
Latitude
(°N)
66.90
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
24.41
300 kHz ADCP (80 m)
HB 2
67.00
21.54
150 kHz ADCP (195 m), microcat (85 m)
HB 3
67.15
21.30
150 kHz ADCP (225 m), microcat (90 m)
HB 4
67.28
21.30
150 kHz ADCP (189 m), microcat, thermometer.
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3.1.2 Iceland-Faroes Inflow (Faroes Current)
The inflow of Atlantic Water into the Nordic Seas between Iceland and the Faroes is monitored by a mooring
array located to the north of the Faroe Islands in the Faroese Current (no. 2, Fig. 2). This array consists of
three moorings which have been used to determine the volume fluxes associated with this particular current
since 1997 (Table 1). The moorings consist of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and microcats
which measure temperature, conductivity and pressure (Table 3). The array is maintained by the Faroe Marine
Research Institute (HAV), and funded by NACLIM.
Table 3. Mooring positions and instruments within the Faroese Current Array north of the Faroe Islands (no. 2,
Fig. 2). ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler; RCM: Rotor Current Meters
Mooring
i.d.
NWNA
Latitude
(°N)
62.70
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
6.08
ADCP (300 m), microcat (300 m)
NWNB
62.91
6.08
ADCP (700 m)
NWNG
63.10
6.10
ADCP (650 m), RCM (700 m)
3.1.3 Faroes-Scotland Inflow (Faroe Shetland Channel)
The inflow passing into the Nordic Seas between the Faroe Islands and Scotland is captured by an array of
eight moorings located in the Faroe Shetland Channel (no. 3, Fig. 2). Although the position of these moorings
has changed slightly with time, the flow has been consistently monitored since 1994 in a joint programme
between Marine Scotland-Science (MSS) and HAV (Faroe Islands). Between 1994 and 2013 moorings were
deployed along the S-line which lies perpendicularly across the channel at around 60.5 °N. However, between
2011 and present (excluding 2012 – 2013) the moorings were deployed along the Z-line, which again lies
across the channel, although slightly further south at around 60.0 °N. It is worth noting that measurements
were made at both lines between May 2011 and May 2012. The moorings within the array contain ADCPs and
microcats at various depths (Table 4), and are partially funded by NACLIM.
3.1.4 Recirculating Atlantic Water (Irminger Current)
Around 50 % of the Atlantic Water that enters the Subpolar North Atlantic re-circulates around the gyre rather
than passing over the Greenland-Scotland Ridge. This re-circulating water, carried in the Irminger Current, will
be monitored by four moorings forming an array on the western flank of the Reykjanes Ridge in the Iceland
Basin (no. 4, Fig. 2). These moorings were due to be deployed in 2013, but because of problems with shiptime they will instead be deployed in July 2014. The planned positions and instrument depths are shown in
Table 5. These moorings will be maintained by the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and
are funded by NACLIM.
Page 13
Table 4. Mooring positions and instruments on the Z-line Array across the Faroe Shetland Channel (no. 3, Fig.
2). ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler.
Mooring
i.d.
NWZA
Latitude
(°N)
60.39
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
6.16
75 kHz ADCP (seabed), microcat (seabed)
NWZB
60.23
6.17
75 kHz ADCP (seabed)
NWZC
60.07
6.17
75 kHz ADCP (200 m above seabed)
NWZI
59.99
6.17
75 kHz ADCP (250 m above seabed)
NWZE
59.91
6.17
NWZG
59.78
6.17
75 kHz ADCP (5 m above seabed), microcat (5 m above
seabed)
150 kHz ADCP (seabed)
NWZF
59.71
6.17
300 kHz ADCP (seabed)
NWZH
59.62
6.17
300 KHz ADCP (seabed)
Table 5. Proposed mooring positions and instruments for the Irminger Current Array on the western flank of the
Reykjanes Ridge (no. 4, Fig. 2). ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler; CM: Current Meter.
Mooring
i.d.
IC1
Latitude
(°N)
59.06
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
33.79
microcat (100 m), microcat (500 m), 75 kHz ADCP (500
m), microcat (1000 m), CM (1000 m), microcat (1500 m),
CM (1500 m), microcat (seabed), CM (seabed)
IC2
58.96
32.76
microcat (100 m), microcat (500 m), 75 kHz ADCP (500
m), microcat (1000 m), CM (1000 m), microcat (1500 m),
CM (1500 m), microcat (seabed), CM (seabed)
IC3
58.88
31.99
microcat (100 m), microcat (500 m), 75 kHz ADCP (500
m), microcat (1000 m), CM (1000 m), microcat (seabed),
CM (seabed)
IC4
58.81
31.30
microcat (100 m), microcat (500 m), 75 kHz ADCP (500
m), microcat (1000 m), CM (1000 m), microcat (seabed),
CM (seabed)
3.2 East Greenland Current moored array
This section (3.2) details the moored array within the East Greenland Current (turquoise, Fig. 2) which is a cool
fresh current on the shelf to the east of Greenland. This flow contributes both to the dense Denmark Strait
Overflow Water, as well as to a shallower flow which continues down the east Greenlandic Shelf. The flow
within the East Greenland Current has been measured since August 2012 by the three moorings in the Kögur
Page 14
Mooring Array (no. 5, Fig. 2). These moorings contain ADCPs and microcats (Table 6) and have been
maintained by NIOZ (Netherlands). The array is funded by NACLIM.
Table 6. Mooring positions and instruments for the Kogör Array in the East Greenland Current (no. 5, Fig. 2).
ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler; RCM: Rotor Current Meters
Mooring
i.d.
KGA12
Latitude
(°N)
68.32
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
25.49
75 KHz ADCP (300 m), microcat (300 m)
KGA13
68.32
25.49
microcat (82 m)
KGA14
68.47
25.82
600 kHz ADCP (80 m), microcat (82 m), RCM (200 m),
1200 kHz ADCP (300 m), microcat (300 m)
3.3 Overflow moored arrays
The warm and salty Atlantic Waters that enter the Nordic Seas are cooled and mixed by winter storms forming
a number of cold dense water masses. These dense waters move southwards overflowing the GreenlandScotland Ridge at a number of locations (blue, Fig. 2). The moored arrays that capture these overflows are
discussed within section 3.3.
3.3.1 Denmark Strait Overflow
An important feeder component to the overflow through the Denmark Strait is the relatively newly discovered
North Icelandic Jet. This narrow current which runs along the north-western Icelandic Slope is monitored by a
single mooring array (no. 6, Fig. 2). The mooring, which contains an ADCP and microcats (Table 7), has been
operating since 2012 and is maintained by the Marine Research Institute (MRI) and the US Woods Hole
Institute. Funding for the mooring is provided by the Iceland Research Centre, with NACLIM utilising the data
generated.
Table 7. Mooring positions and instruments for the North Icelandic Jet Array to the northeast of the Denmark
Strait (no. 6, Fig. 2). This mooring is funded by the Icelandic Research Centre with NACLIM exploiting the data
generated. ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler.
Mooring
i.d.
KG4
Latitude
(°N)
67.42
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
23.69
75 kHz ADCP (605 m), microcats (603 m, 435 m, 285 m,
83 m)
The overflow through the Denmark Strait itself is monitored by an array consisting of two moorings (no. 7, Fig.
2). The moorings, which are used to calculate the volume flux associated with Denmark Strait Overflow Water,
consist of ADCPs and microcats (Table 8). This array has been maintained since 1996 by Universities of Kiel
and Hamburg (Germany, DS2) and the Marine Research Institute (Iceland, DS1). The moorings are funded by
NACLIM.
Page 15
Table 8. Mooring positions and instruments within the Denmark Strait Array (no. 7, Fig. 2). ADCP: Acoustic
Doppler Current Profiler.
Mooring
i.d.
DS1
Latitude
(°N)
66.08
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
27.08
microcat (4 m from seabed), ADCP (5 m from bottom)
DS2
66.12
27.27
microcat (4 m from seabed), ADCP (5 m from bottom)
Downstream of the Denmark Strait in the western Irminger Sea, the volume, heat and salt fluxes associated
with Denmark Strait Overflow Water are monitored in the Angmagssalik Array (no. 8, Fig. 2). Although some
measurements were made in the late 1980s, consistent monitoring has occurred since 1995. The array
currently consists of two moorings and is maintained by the UK Centre for Environment, Fisheries and
Aquaculture Science (CEFAS). The array run out of funding and will stop in 2014 with a fully recovery attempt.
Table 9. Mooring positions and instruments within the Angmagssalik Array in the Denmark Strait overflow
plume in the Irminger Basin (no. 8, Fig. 2). CM: Current Meter. This mooring array is maintained by the UK
Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, but funding is no longer available and the time series
will stop.
Mooring
i.d.
UK1
Latitude
(°N)
63.48
UK2
63.28
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
36.30
CM (15 m, 200 m, 350 m above seabed), microcat (20 m
above seabed)
35.86
CM (15 m, 200 m, 350 m above seabed), microcat (20 m
above seabed)
3.3.2 Faroe Bank Channel Overflow
The dense outflow through the Faroe Bank Channel (no. 9, Fig. 2) is monitored by a two mooring array within
the channel, although in the past between one and three moorings have been deployed in the area. The array
has been present since 1995 and is maintained by HAV and funded by NACLIM. Instruments include ADCPs
and a microcat (Table 10).
Table 10. Mooring positions and instruments within the Faroe Bank Channel Array (no. 9, Fig. 2). ADCP:
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler.
Mooring
i.d.
NWFB
Latitude
(°N)
61.42
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
8.28
ADCP (800 m), microcat (800 m)
NWFC
61.39
8.32
ADCP (836 m)
Page 16
3.3.3 Wyville Thomson Ridge Overflow
The relatively small overflow over the Wyville Thomson Ridge has been monitored by a single mooring located
immediately downstream of the sill (no. 10, white circle, Fig. 2) between 2003 and 2013. The mooring,
consisting of an ADCP and microcat (Table 11), was maintained by the Scottish Association for Marine
Science (SAMS) and enabled an estimate of the volume transport of the overflow to be calculated.
Table 11. Mooring position and instruments on the Wyville Thomson Ridge Array (no. 10, white circle, Fig. 2).
Monitoring at this site ended in August 2013. ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler.
Mooring
i.d.
WTB2
Latitude
(°N)
60.25
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
8.92
75 kHz ADCP (20 m above seabed), microcat (12 m
above seabed)
In July 2014 the mooring will be re-deployed to the western Rockall Trough to capture the overflow plume as it
passes through this basin (no. 10, blue circle, Fig. 2). The mooring will consist of three current meters (Table
12) and will benefit from a nearby OSNAP mooring consisting not only of current meters but also microcats
(see section 4.1). This current meter mooring will be funded by NACLIM.
Table 12. Proposed mooring position and instruments on the re-deployed Wyville Thomson Ridge Array in the
western Rockall Trough (no. 10, blue circle, Fig. 2). This mooring will be part of the larger OSNAP array and
will be deployed in July 2014. Depths are approximate. CM: Current Meter.
Mooring
i.d.
RTWB2
Latitude
(°N)
57.20
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
12.77
CM (near seabed, 1400 m, 1200 m, 1000 m)
3.4 Convection centre moored arrays
As well as monitoring the dense overflows over the Greenland-Scotland Ridge, NACLIM also has moorings in
the two areas of the subpolar North Atlantic known to produce deep water masses by winter convection: the
Irminger and Labrador Seas (IrS and LS, Fig. 2). These are discussed in section 3.4.
3.4.1 Central Irminger Sea
The central Irminger Sea hosts two moorings: the Central Irminger Sea mooring (no. 11, Fig. 2) and the Longterm Ocean Climate Observations (LOCO) Irminger Sea mooring (no. 12, Fig. 2).
The Central Irminger Sea mooring has been in place since 2002 and is composed of both physical and
chemical sensors (Table 13). The mooring is maintained by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean
Research and is funded by NACLIM.
Page 17
Table 13. Mooring position and instruments on the Central Irminger Sea mooring (no. 11, Fig. 2) which
monitors deep convection within the Irminger Sea. ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler; RCM:
RotorCurrent Meter.
Mooring
i.d.
CIS
Latitude
(°N)
59.67
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
39.67
Microcat (10 m, 30 m, 45 m, 115m, 160 m, 200 m, 375
m, 550 m, 750 m, 1000 m, 1250 m, 1500 m), 300 kHz
ADCP (40-150 m), RCM (1000 m, 2000 m), fluorometer
(45 m), dissolved CO2 sensor (45 m), dissolved oxygen
optode (45 m), nitrate sensor (45 m)
The nearby LOCO Irminger Sea mooring is maintained by NIOZ. The mooring is designed to measure physical
parameters associated with a deep convection area including temperature and salinity profiles between 155
and 2435 m (Table 14). The mooring has been operating since 2003 and is funded by NACLIM.
Table 14. Mooring position and instruments on the LOCO Irminger Sea mooring (no. 12, Fig. 2) which monitors
deep convection within the Irminger Sea. ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler.
Mooring
i.d.
LOCO2
Latitude
(°N)
59.20
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
39.50
Microcat (3000 m), 75 kHz upward-looking ADCP (2450
m), Profiler (155 m – 2535 m), microcat (155 m), 75 kHz
downward-looking ADCP (125 m)
3.4.2 Central Labrador Sea
Convection within the Labrador Sea is monitored with a single mooring in the central basin (no. 13, Fig. 2).
This mooring, first deployed in 1996, is maintained by GEOMAR and consists of microcats, minilogs and
rotating current meters (Table 15). From 2014 the mooring will also host sensors from the Canadian VITALS
project (Ventilation, Interactions and Transports Across the Labrador Sea, PI Paul Meyes, University of
Alberta). This mooring is funded by NACLIM.
Table 15. Mooring position and instruments on the Central Labrador Sea mooring (no. 13, Fig. 2) that monitors
the deep convection within the basin.
Mooring
i.d.
K1
Latitude
(°N)
56.63
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
52.61
minilog (79 m, 90 m, 396 m, 737 m, 1246 m), RCM (88
m, 737 m, 1493 m), microcat (89 m, 244 m, 542 m, 1044
m, 1494 m, 1861 m)
3.5 Boundary current moored array
Dense waters, predominantly those overflowing the Greenland-Scotland Ridge but also the denser
components of those formed by deep convection within the Subpolar Gyre, exit the NACLIM study area via a
Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC). This is monitored via a six mooring array in the south-western
Page 18
Labrador Sea (no. 14, Fig. 2) and is discussed within this section. These moorings are part funded by the
Regional Atlantic Circulation and Global Change Project (RACE) financed by the German Federal Ministry for
Education and Research (BMBF). The array was first deployed in July 1997 and is maintained by GEOMAR.
The moorings contain current meters of various designs, minilogs and microcats (Table 16) enabling alongshore volume transports to be calculated for various density classes. NACLIM will utilise the data generated.
Table 16. Mooring position and instruments on the Labrador Sea Western Boundary Current array at 53 °N at
the south-western exit of the basin (no. 14, Fig. 2). This mooring is funded by the RACE project from the
German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). The data will be used by NACLIM. ADCP:
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler; CM: Current Meter; RCM: Rotor Current Meter.
Mooring
i.d.
K10
Latitude
(°N)
53.38
Longitude Instruments and deployment depth (m)
(°W)
50.26
RCM (259 m), minilog (259 m), microcat (260 m, 562 m),
RCM (656 m), microcat (658 m), RCM (1054 m),
microcat (1560 m), Argonaut CM (1561 m), RCM (2058
m), Argonaut CM (2555 m), RCM (3052 m), microcat
(3053 m), RCM (3309 m), microcat (3311 m)
50.55
RCM (2851 m), minilog (2851 m), Aquadopp CM (3005
m), microcat (3007 m), RCM (3111 m)
50.88
minilog, RCM (222 m), microcat (223 m, 425 m, 620 m),
RCM (621 m, 1027 m), microcat (1525 m), Argonaut CM
(1526 m, 2022 m), RCM (2567 m, 2721 m), microcat
(2723 m), RCM (2828 m)
DSOW2
53.26
K9
53.14
DSOW1
53.05
51.08
K8
52.95
51.31
K7
52.87
51.49
RCM (2462 m), microcat (2463 m, 2549 m), RCM (2550
m)
minilog (176 m), RCM (203 m), microcat (204m, 396 m),
RCM (601 m), microcat (602 m), RCM (1008 m),
microcat (1506 m), Argonaut CM (1507 m), RCM (1903
m), microcat (1904 m), RCM (2160 m)
microcat (38 m), ADCP (190 m), microcat (195 m, 396
m, 594 m), RCM (595 m), microcat (1003 m), RCM
(1004 m), microcat (1473 m), RCM (1474 m), RCM
(1474 m)
3.6 Moored array at 26.5 °N
The NACLIM programme also uses data from a large array of 26 moorings stretching across the North Atlantic
at 26.5 °N (no. 15, Fig. 2). These moorings are maintained by the RAPID programme funded by the UK
National Environment Research Council (NERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), and US National
Ocean and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA). Data collection began in 2004 and involves various UK and
US Institutions. The moorings contain microcats, various types of current meters, and bottom pressure
recorders (Fig. 3). This array is used to calculate the volume transport associated with different components of
the Meridional Overturning Circulation as well as total transport, and heat and freshwater fluxes. Data will be
exploited by NACLIM.
Page 19
Figure 3. Schematic of mooring positions and instruments on the 26.5 °N RAPID array in the North Atlantic (no. 15, Fig. 2). This array is funded by the UK
National Environment Research Council, the US National Science Foundation, and US National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration. The data will be used
within NACLIM. ADCP: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler; BPR: Bottom Pressure Recorder; CTD: Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (microcat). Figure
courtesy of RAPID.
Page 20
3.7 Standard hydrographic sections in the vicinity of NACLIM moorings
NACLIM partially funds three hydrographic sections in the subpolar North Atlantic (circles, Fig. 4). Additionally,
the NACLIM programme utilises data from a further five sections funded by other sources (squares, Fig. 4). All
hydrographic lines are detailed within sections 3.7-3.9 and summarised in Table 17.
This section (3.7) details the hydrographic lines in the vicinity of NACLIM moorings. There are five
hydrographic sections in this category (no. 1-5, Fig. 4), each are occupied multiple times a year.
NS
2
1
3
IrB
LS
5 4
IB
6
6
7
RT
Figure 4. Position of hydrographic sections either partially funded by (circles), or exploited by (squares)
NACLIM. See Table 17 for details.
Also shown are schematic pathways of: upper currents (red and turquoise) and pathways of deep overflow
waters (blue); as well as the main bathymetric features: IB: Iceland Basin; IrB: Irminger Basin; LS: Labrador
Sea; NS: Nordic Seas and RT: Rockall Trough.
Page 21
Table 17. Summary of all standard hydrographic sections partially funded by, or exploited by NACLIM. See
Figure 4 for section numbers.
Section
No.
Location of
section
1
Denmark Strait (1)
2
North Icelandic
Shelf
North of Faroe
Islands (2)
Faroe Shetland
Channel
(two lines) (3)
Faroe Bank
Channel (4)
Canada to
Greenland to
Scotland (5)
Scotland to Iceland
3
4
5
6
7
Data period
No.
occupations
per year
1997 - present five
No. of
stations
1994 - present three
eight
1987- present
17
three
five
1903 - present six
16 / 14
1988 - present three
20
Jul.-Aug. 2014 NA
planned ~
120
1996 - present one
46
(6)
(1)
This section is partly funded by the German BMBF under the RACE project, with NACLIM exploiting the
data.
(2)
This section is partly funded by NACLIM and partly by the Faroese Government.
(3)
Two standard lines in Faroe Shetland Channel occupied by Marine Scotland – Science three times a year.
Sampling regularly began in 1903. Additionally, two near identical lines are occupied a further three times a
year by the Faroese Marine Institute (since 1988). This section is partly funded by NACLIM, but also Marine
Scotland and the Faroese Government.
(4)
Funding for this section is jointly from NACLIM and the Faroese Government.
(5)
Line is a one off occupation in 2014, funded by the UK NERC RAGNARoCC programme. NACLIM will utilise
the data. The hydrographic section lies close to AR7W and on AR7E. These lines have been regularly
occupied since at least 1990.
(6)
The Extended Ellett Line is funded by UK NERC under National Capability. NACLIM will exploit the data.
The section through the Rockall Trough has been occupied since 1975, but was only extended to include the
Rockall-Hatton Plateau and Iceland Basin in 1996.
3.7.1 Denmark Strait
A section consisting of five hydrographic stations across the Denmark Strait (no. 1, Fig. 4; Table 18) has been
operating since 1995. This line is currently sampled once a year by the University of Hamburg, and three times
a year by MRI. The German occupation is funded by the BMBF under the RACE project, with NACLIM
exploiting the data. The Icelandic occupation is funded by MRI. This section is designed to measure the dense
overflow through the Denmark Strait.
Page 22
Table 18. Position of stations in the Denmark Strait hydrographic section (no. 1, Fig. 4). This section is partly
funded by the German BMBF under the RACE project. NACLIM utilises the data.
Station
Latitude
Longitude
Station Latitude Longitude
id
(°N)
(°W)
id
(°N)
(°W)
DS1
66.12
27.27
DS4
66.24
27.80
DS2
66.08
27.08
DS5
66.05
26.94
DS3
66.17
27.48
3.7.2 North Icelandic Shelf
The hydrographic section on the North Icelandic Shelf, the Hornbanki Line, consists of five stations and has
been occupied four times a year since 1994 (no. 2, Fig. 4; Table 19). The section is designed to monitor the
warm and saline North Icelandic Irminger Current which flows eastwards on the North Icelandic Shelf. The
section is maintained by MRI.
Table 19. Position of stations in the Hornbanki hydrographic section sampling the North Icelandic Irminger
Current on the North Faroese Shelf (no. 2, Fig. 4).
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
HB1
66.67
21.58
HB4
67.17
21.58
HB2
66.83
21.58
HB5
67.33
21.58
HB3
67.00
21.58
HB6
67.50
21.58
3.7.3 North Faroese Shelf
The section on the North Faroese Shelf monitors the Faroese Current, a warm and saline current that is the
conduit for Atlantic Waters to enter the Nordic Seas between Iceland and the Faroe Islands (no. 3, Fig. 4). This
section, which consists of 17 stations (Table 20), has been occupied since 1987. The stations are currently
sampled three times a year by HAV with funding jointly from both NACLIM and the Faroese Government.
Table 20. Position of standard stations in the hydrographic section crossing the Faroese Current on the North
Faroese Shelf (no. 3, Fig. 4). This section is jointly funded by NACLIM and the Faroese Government.
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
N01
62.33
6.08
N06 (1)
63.17
6.08
N1A
62.42
6.08
N07 (1)
63.33
6.08
N02
62.50
6.08
N08 (1)
63.50
6.08
Page 23
(1)
(2)
N2A
62.58
6.08
N09 (1)
63.67
6.08
N03
62.67
6.08
N10 (1)
63.83
6.08
N3A
62.75
6.08
N11 (1)
64.00
6.08
N04
62.83
6.08
N12 (1)
64.17
6.08
N05 (1)
63.00
6.08
N13 (1)
64.33
6.08
N06 (1)
63.17
6.08
N14 (2)
64.50
6.00
N07 (1)
63.33
6.08
Not full depth stations (surface to 1300 m only)
Not full depth station (surface to 2000 m only)
3.7.4 Faroe Shetland Channel
The Faroe Shetland Channel (no. 4, Fig. 4) plays host to two hydrographic sections: the Nolso-Flugga Line at
around 61.5 °N (Table 21) and the Fair Isle – Munken Line at around 60.5 °N (Table 22). These lines, of 16
and 14 stations respectively, are occupied by Scottish MSS three times a year. Regular occupation of the lines
began in 1903. Funding for these transects is via Marine Scotland. Since 1988 the Faroese HAVSTOVAN
(HAV) has also been occupying two very similar lines three times a year. Funding for these occupations is by
both NACLIM and the Faroese Government. These sections sample not only the northward flowing Atlantic
Waters, but also the deep return flow.
Table 21. Position of standard stations in the Nolso-Flugga Section crossing the Faroe Shetland Channel (no.
4, Fig. 4). Funding is via Marine Scotland, NACLIM and the Faroese Government.
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
NOL01
60.93
1.00
NOL04
61.23
2.67
SEFOS
60.98
1.30
NOL05
61.35
3.17
SEFOS
61.02
1.59
NOL06
61.47
3.70
NOL02
61.07
1.88
NOL07
61.58
4.25
SEFOS
61.10
2.03
NOL08
61.70
4.85
NOL03
61.13
2.17
NOL09
61.82
5.35
SEFOS
61.16
2.29
NOL10
61.90
5.75
NOL3a
61.18
2.42
NOL11
62.00
6.20
Table 22. Position of standard stations in the Fair Isle – Munken Line crossing the Faroe Shetland Channel
(no. 4, Fig. 4). Funding is via Marine Scotland, NACLIM and the Faroese Government.
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
Page 24
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
FIM01
60.17
3.73
FIM06
60.58
4.75
SEFOS
60.22
3.86
FIM6a
60.63
4.90
FIM02
60.27
3.98
FIM7
60.72
5.10
SEFOS
60.30
4.08
FIM8
60.78
5.27
FIM03
60.33
4.17
FIM9
60.85
5.48
FIM04
60.42
4.32
FIM10
61.03
5.95
FIM05
60.48
4.43
FIM11
61.20
6.37
3.7.5 Faroe Bank Channel
The standard hydrographic section at the exit of the Faroe Bank Channel (no. 5, Fig. 4) consists of 20 stations
(Table 23). This section, which has been sampled regularly since 1988, is occupied three times a year by the
Faroese HAV. This activity is funded by both NACLIM and the Faroese Government. The line is designed to
measure the cold dense water out-flowing the channel.
Table 23. Position of standard stations along the hydrographic line across the exit of the Faroe Bank Channel
(no. 5, Fig. 4). This section is funded by NACLIM and the Faroese Government.
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
V01
61.83
7.00
V2D
61.56
7.49
V1A
61.80
7.04
V2E
61.53
7.53
V1B
61.78
7.09
V03
61.50
7.58
V1C
61.75
7.14
V04
61.42
7.73
V1D
61.72
7.19
V05
61.33
7.88
V1E
61.69
7.24
V06
61.27
8.00
V02
61.67
7.30
V07
61.22
8.10
V2A
61.64
7.34
V08
61.17
8.18
V2B
61.61
7.39
V09
61.08
8.33
V2C
61.58
7.44
V10
60.98
8.47
3.8 Hydrographic section between Canada to Scotland
This section (3.8) details a hydrographic section stretching from Canada to Scotland via Greenland (no. 6, Fig.
4). The line will be occupied during a research cruise in July-August 2014, funded by the UK NERC
RAGNARoCC programme (Radiatively Active Gases from the North Atlantic Region and Climate Change).
NACLIM will utilise the data from this cruise which aims to occupy around 120 stations in total. The
Page 25
hydrographic section runs along a line proposed by OSNAP (Observing Subpolar North Atlantic Programme), a
newly funded international programme (for more detail on OSNAP see section 4.1). However, the section lies
close to the AR7W line, and partially along the AR7E line (Fig. 5). These two lines have been occupied multiple
times since at least 1990. It is hoped that the Irminger Sea portion of the line (C and D, Fig. 5) will be resampled in 2015 whilst the NACLIM and OSNAP moorings undergo maintenance.
Figure 5. The OSNAP line comprising of: (A) German 53 °N western boundary array and Canadian shelfbreak
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 glider survey (yellow) over the Rockall-Hatton
Plateau and Rockall Trough; (G) UK Rockall Trough and Scottish Slope Current array. Red dots: US float
launch sites; blue star: US OOI Irminger Sea global node; black concentric circles: US sound sources. One
mooring in the western Rockall Trough is funded by NACLIM (section 3.3.3). Figure courtesy of OSNAP.
3.9 Standard hydrographic section between Iceland and Scotland
NACLIM exploits data from a hydrographic line between Iceland and Scotland (no. 7, Fig. 4); this is
detailed within this section (3.9). The line, which is known as the Extended Ellett Line, is maintained
jointly by SAMS and the National Oceanography Centre – Southampton (NERC/NOC). Funding
comes from UK NERC National Capability programme. The section consists of 46 stations (Table 24)
and has been occupied once each year since 1996. However, the Rockall Trough portion of the
section has been sampled at least annually since 1975.
Table 24. Position of standard stations along the Extended Ellett Line between Iceland and Scotland (no. 7,
Fig. 4). This section is funded by the UK NERC National Capability programme. NACLIM will utilise the data.
Station Latitude
id
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
Station
id
Latitude
(°N)
Longitude
(°W)
IB23S
-20.22
IB4A
58.67
-16.50
63.32
Page 26
IB22S
63.22
-20.07
IB4
58.50
-16.00
IB21S
63.13
-19.92
IB3
58.25
-15.33
IB20S
62.92
-19.55
IB2
57.95
-14.58
IB19S
62.67
-19.67
IB1
57.67
-13.90
IB18S
62.33
-19.83
A
57.58
-13.63
IB17
62.00
-20.00
B
57.57
-13.33
IB16A
61.75
-20.00
C
57.55
-13.00
IB16
61.50
-20.00
D
57.54
-12.87
IB15
61.25
-20.00
E
57.53
-12.63
IB14
61.00
-20.00
F
57.50
-12.25
IB13A
60.75
-20.00
G
57.49
-11.85
IB13
60.50
-20.00
H
57.48
-11.53
IB12A
60.25
-20.00
I
57.47
-11.32
IB12
60.00
-20.00
J
57.45
-11.08
IB11A
59.83
-19.50
K
57.40
-10.87
IB11
59.67
-19.00
L
57.37
-10.67
IB10
59.41
-18.43
M
57.30
-10.38
IB9
59.33
-18.23
N
57.23
-10.05
IB8
59.20
-17.88
O
57.15
-9.70
IB7
59.12
-17.67
P
57.10
-9.42
IB6
58.95
-17.18
Q
57.05
-9.22
IB5
58.88
-17.00
R
57.00
-9.00
3.10 Glider activities
Data from two glider missions funded by other projects will be exploited within NACLIM. These are
detailed within section 3.10. The first sample area is in the Faroe Shetland Channel (no. 1, Fig. 6),
and the second stretches from Scotland to Iceland (no. 2, Fig. 6). The gliders will measure the upper
1000 m of the water column and therefore capture the main pathways of the warm and saline water
that enters the Nordic Seas and Arctic (red arrows, Fig. 6).
Page 27
1
2
Figure 6. Glider activities linked to NACLIM within the Faroe Shetland Channel (1) and from Scotland to
Iceland (2). Work in the Faroe Shetland Channel is funded by UK NERC through the FASTNEt project; whilst
the work along the Extended Ellett Line from Scotland to Iceland is funded by UK NERC under National
Capability funding. NACLIM will exploit the data. Also shown (red) are a schematic of the upper water
pathways.
The Faroe Shetland Channel deployment is planned between May and September 2014 with the mission track
approximately along the Fair Isle – Munken (S line) standard hydrographic section (no. 1, Fig. 6). This mission
will be funded by UK NERC under the FASTNEt project (Fluxes Across Sloping Topography of the North East
Atlantic), with the data exploited by NACLIM. The mission will be run by two Scottish institutes: SAMS and
MSS.
The mission between Scotland and Iceland (no. 2, Fig. 6) is planned to approximately follow the Extended
Ellett Line standard hydrographic section (section 3.9). Deployment is anticipated for March/April 2014 with
recovery in July 2014. The work is funded under National Capability by UK NERC and will be overseen by
SAMS.
4 Links to other international programmes
As mentioned in earlier sections, as well as funding some moorings and hydrographic sections, NACLIM also
exploits data from other programmes. These include, but are not limited to, the:
(1) German BMBF funded RACE project (section 3.5 and 3.7.1)
(2) UK (NERC) and US (NSF and NOAA) funded RAPID 26.5 °N programme (section 3.6)
Page 28
(3) UK NERC funded RAGNARoCC programme (section 3.8)
(4) UK NERC National Capability funded Extended Ellett Line (sections 3.9 and 3.10)
(5) UK NERC funded FASTNEt programme (section 3.10)
Additionally, NACLIM exploits data from hydrographic sections partly funded by Marine Scotland (section 3.74)
and the Faroese Government (sections 3.7.3, 3.74, 3.75), and a mooring funded by the Iceland Research
Centre (section 3.3.1).
NACLIM also has links to other international programmes. These are discussed briefly below.
4.1 OSNAP
The Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Programme (OSNAP) runs from 2014 to 2018 and consists of a
number of moorings across the subpolar North Atlantic (Fig. 5). Hence it is similar to the large-scale RAPID
array at 26.5 °N (section 3.6). The programme is funded by the UK NERC, US NSF and US NOAA and
involves institutions in seven countries both within Europe and North America. The aim of OSNAP is to
generate new knowledge of the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre and its wider impacts on climate.
4.2 OOI
The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is a science driven network of sensor systems designed to measure
physical, chemical, biological and geological variables in the ocean and seafloor. The programme is funded by
the US NSF. Within the subpolar North Atlantic an observatory within the Irminger Basin (blue star, Fig. 5) is
due to start data collection in late 2014. This observatory, which consists of three moorings and glider sections
in the upper water column, is situated within the same area as the two NACLIM moorings within the Irminger
Sea (section 3.4.1).
4.3 FixO3
The Fixed-point Open Ocean Observations (FixO3) is a European FP7 funded project with 29 partners in 12
countries. It aims to integrate European open-ocean fixed point observations and improve access to these
installations for the broader community. The programme is linked to Eurosites, a FP7 funded project that ran
between 2008 and 2011.
4.4 EMSO
The European Multi-Disciplinary Seafloor and water column Observatory programme (EMSO) is a large scale
European Research Infrastructure of seafloor observatories in European waters. This programme is linked to
FixO3 and its predecessor Eurosites.
4.5 GOOS
The Global Observing System (GOOS) is a permanent global system for observations, modelling and analysis
of marine and ocean variables. This programme, which has been operating since 1990, is funded by the
International Oceanographic Commission (IOC), International Council for Science (ICSU), United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Data are available from
the associated Global Observing System Information Centre (GOSIC).
Page 29
4.6 GROOM
The Gliders for Research, Ocean Observations and Management programme (GROOM) is a European FP7
funded project involving 19 partners in nine different countries. The programme is a European Research
Infrastructure that uses gliders to collect in-situ data.
4. References
See appendix B.
Ruhl H., L. Beranzoli, N. Cagatay, A. Colaço, M. Cannat, J.J. Danobeitia, P. Favali, L. Géli, M. Gilloly, J.
Greinert, P. Hall, R. Huber, J. Karstensen, R. Lampitt, K. Larkin, V. Lykousis, J. Mienert, J.M. Miranda, R.
Person, I.G. Priede, I. Puillat, L. Thomsen, C. Waldmann, (2011) Societal need for improved understanding of
climate change, anthropogenic impacts, and geohazrd warning drive development of ocean observatories in
European Seas, Progress in Oceanography, Vol 91, Issue 1, p.1-33 5. Dissemination and uptake
5.1 Dissemination
Peer reviewed articles:
Title
Main
author
All authors
Title of
the
periodic
al or the
series
Number,
date or
frequency
Publi
sher
Intra-seasonal variability
of the DWBC in the
western subpolar North
Atlantic;
Fischer,
J., et al.
Progres
s in
Oceano
graphy’
accepted
Elsev
ier
2014
Convective mixing in the
central Irminger Sea:
2002–2010
De Jong,
F., et al
DeepSea
Res.
Vol. 63
Elsev
ier
2012
Observed decline of the
Atlantic Meridional
Overturning Circulation.
Smeed,
D.A.;
McCarthy,
et al.
Ocean
Science
Discussi
ons
10
Cope
rnicu
s
Gese
llsch
aft
2013
yes
Global Oceans:
Meridional overturning
circulation and heat
transport observations in
the Atlantic Ocean
Baringer,
M.O.;
Johns,
W.E.;
McCarthy,
G.; et al.
Bulletin
of the
America
n
Meteoro
logical
Society,
94 (State
of the
Climate in
2012)
2013
yes
Plan for future publication:
Page 30
Place
of
publica
tion
Year of
publication
Perma
nent
identifi
ers[1]
DOI
Is/Will
open
access[2]
provided
to this
publicatio
n?
yes
doi:10
.1016/
j.dsr.2
012.0
1.003
NA
In
preparation
OR
submitted?
Title
Main
All authors
author
Title of
periodical
the series
the
or
Is/Will
open
access[2]
provided to this
publication?
In
preparation
The DWBC and its transports at the exit of
the Labrador Sea: The 53°N Array 1997 to
2012
Zantopp, Fischer,
Karstensen,
Visbeck, Kopte
Not defined yet
yes
In
preparation
Freshwater flux in the East Greenland
Current north of Denmark Strait - results
from the Kögur array 2011-2012.
De Steur, L., Våge,
K., Østerhus, S., et
al
JGR - Oceans
yes
5.2 Uptake by the targeted audience
X
The general public (PU)
The project partners, including the Commission services (PP)
A group specified by the consortium, including the Commission services (RE)
This reports is confidential, only for members of the consortium, including the Commission services (CO)
Dissemination of deliverable via the project website.
6. The delivery is delayed:
 Yes
 No
7. Changes made and difficulties encountered, if any
None.
8. Efforts for this deliverable
Partner
Person-months
Period covered
10
GEOMAR
November 2012-April 2014
MRI
0,25
November 2012-April 2014
NIOZ
0,50
November 2012-April 2014
SAMS
10,25
November 2012-April 2014
Total
21
November 2012-April 2014
Total estimated effort for this deliverable (DOW) was 21 person-months.
9. Sustainability
The observational requirements for the climate forecasting systems explored in NACLIM (e.g. CMIP5 models)
require essentially two different types of observations – data to initialize the forecast model, in order to provide
the best estimate of the ocean state, and data to derive indices that can be utilized to validate the forecast
products.
The observational data for initialization is obtained from a variety of in-situ observing systems (e.g. Argo floats,
surface drifter, XBT, VOS, moorings, research and voluntary observing ships) as well as data derived from
satellite remote sensing. Some of the observing systems are designed for long term global monitoring, for
example the Argo array is designed to sample the upper ocean heat content on seasonal time scales for the
Page 31
global ocean. Other components are feed into the data pool on an opportunistic basis e.g. data that has been
collected in the context of a certain process study can also be of use when deriving high quality global scale
data products (e.g. a temperature may for the 4000m depth horizon). The consolidation of the data, in
particular beyond the individual observing networks, is currently not addressed in a coordinated way.
Nevertheless, some global and very general coordination is taken place as part of the Global Ocean Observing
System (GOOS). The impact of this data on NACLIM model products is explored in CT3.
The observational data as well as derived data products (e.g. transport time series) that are used for the
validation of the climate models investigated within NACLIM are obtained from a set of highly specialized
moored observing arrays. These arrays have been erected in key locations and have been operated since
many years or even decades. However, no secured funding beyond a typical project life-time of more than 3 to
4 years is in most case allocated to the arrays. This is in conflict with the fact that the great value of such time
series is also in having long, continuous records available. A risk for discontinuity exists, as for example has
been recently seen for one of the longest records, the Angmagssalik Array downstream of the Denmark Strait
in the western Irminger Sea. For this location pilot arrays go back to the late 1980s while consistent monitoring
began in 1995. However, the funding stopped in 2012 and the final recovery of the array will take place in
summer 2014.
Not only the costs of ocean observing but for rational and logistic reasons, a coordination of activities is
mandatory for the long term observing arrays. Some logistics take place as part of the monitoring cruise that
may in part be associated with other ecosystem and fishery monitoring as initiated by ICES or NAFOS. The
international coordination of the NACLIM CT2 observing systems has also been intensified. Recently launched
international programs such as the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP) or the
erection of one of the four global nodes of the U.S. Ocean Observing Initiative (OOI) extended the logistical
coordination to both side of the Atlantic. This coordination activities in part benefit from international
agreements such as the “The Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation1”, May 2013.
Besides the uncertainty in the funding situation of the ocean climate reference stations the potential to explore
non-physical processes at the observing arrays is so far completely absent. Given that the moored
infrastructure exists, the extension towards an array that observes deep water property transport (e.g. carbon,
oxygen, nutrients), local ecosystem or passive acoustics time series is rather straight forward and the future
design of the arrays (along with appropriate calls for proposals) should make use of the opportunities that
exists here.
About the cooperation between OSNAP and NACLIM, we would like to mention that NACLIM PIs took part in
the OSNAP PI meeting held at the Ocean Sites Meeting in Honolulu on Sunday 23 February 2014
http://www.sgmeet.com/osm2014/viewagendadetail.asp?type=Meetings&Date=2/23/2014&start=08:00:00&end
=17:00:00 for the coordination of joint logistics (cruises, instrumentation) and discussion on best sampling
issues.
1
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-459_en.htm
Page 32
10. Dissemination activities
The complete list of dissemination activitites is available on the NACLIM website
http://naclim.zmaw.de/Dissemination.2509.0.html and on the ECAS portal, section “List of Dissemination
Activities”.
Page 33
Appendix A. Contact details for components of the observing system operated
by, or exploited by, NACLIM
Table A.1. Contact details for moorings operated by, or exploited by, NACLIM. For array numbers see Fig. 2.
Funding abbreviations:
BMBF: German Federal Ministry for Education and Research;
DEFRA: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK);
ICR: Icelandic Centre for Research;
NERC: National Environment Research Council (UK);
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA);
NSF: National Science Foundation (USA);
RACE: Regional Atlantic Circulation and Global Change project;
RAPID: Monitoring the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation programme.
Array
No.
Location of
mooring
array
N. Icelandic
Shelf
Funder
Contact
Institute
NACLIM
Marine Research Institute,
Iceland
2
N. Faroese
Shelf
NACLIM
3
Faroe
Shetland
Channel
NACLIM
W. flank
Reykjanes
Ridge
E.
Greenland
Shelf
N. of the
Denmark
Strait
NACLIM
Hedinn Valdimarsson
hv@hafro.is
Steingrímur Jónsson
steing@unak.is
Bogi Hansen
bogihan@hav.fo
Karin Larsen
KarinL@hav.fo
Barbara Berx
b.berx@marlab.ac.uk
Karin M. Larsen
KarinL@hav.fo
Laura de Steur
Laura.de.Steur@nioz.nl
NACLIM
Laura de Steur
Laura.de.Steur@nioz.nl
Royal Netherlands
Institute for Sea Research
ICR
7
Denmark
Strait
NACLIM
8
W. boundary
of Irminger
Sea
Faroe Bank
Channel
DEFRA
Hedinn Valdimarrson
hv@hafro.is
Bob Pickart
r.pickart@whoi.edu
Detlef Quadfasel
detlef.quadfasel@zmaw.de
Hedinn Valdimarsson,
hv@hafro.is
Stephen Dye
stephen.dye@cefas.co.uk
Marine Research Institute,
Iceland
Woods Hole
Oceanography Institute
University of Hamburg,
Germany
Marine Research Institute,
Iceland
Centre for Env., Fisheries
and Aquaculture Science,
UK
Faroe Marine Institute
1
4
5
6
9
NACLIM
Bogi Hansen
bogihan@hav.fo
Karin M. Larsen
KarinL@hav.fo
Page 34
Faroe Marine Institute
Marine Scotland Science
Faroe Marine Institute
Royal Netherlands
Institute for Sea Research
10
Wyville
Thomson
Ridge
NACLIM
11
Central
Irminger Sea
(CIS)
Central
Irminger Sea
(LOCO)
NACLIM
13
Central
Labrador
Sea
NACLIM
14
53°N array
W. boundary
Labrador
Sea
RAPID-26.5
°N
RACE
(BMBF)
12
15
NACLIM
RAPID
(NERC,
NSF,
NOAA)
Clare Johnson
cljo@sams.ac.uk
Toby Sherwin
tjs@sams.ac.uk
Johannes Karstensen
jkarstensen@geomar.de
Laura de Steur
Laura.de.Steur@nioz.nl
Hendrik van Aken
aken@nioz.nl
Jürgen Fischer
jfischer@geomar.de
Johannes Karstensen
jkarstensen@geomar.de
Jürgen Fischer
jfischer@ifm-geomar.de
Rainer Zantopp
rzantopp@geomar.de
Gerard McCarthy
gerard.mccarthy@noc.soton.a
c.uk
David Smeed
das@noc.ac.uk
Scottish Association for
Marine Science
Helmholtz Centre for
Ocean Research Kiel,
Germany
Royal Netherlands
Institute for Sea Research
Helmholtz Centre for
Ocean Research Kiel,
Germany
Helmholtz Centre for
Ocean Research Kiel,
Germany
National Oceanography
Centre – Southampton,
UK
Table A.2. Contact details for standard hydrographic sections either partly funded by, or exploited by, NACLIM.
For section numbers see Fig. 4.
Funding abbreviations:
BMBF: German Federal Ministry for Education and Research;
FG: Faroese Government;
MS: Marine Scotland;
NERC: National Environment Research Council (UK);
RACE: Regional Atlantic Circulation and Global Change project;
RAGNARoCC: Radiatively Active Gases from the North Atlantic Region and Climate Change programme.
Section
No.
Location
of section
Funder
Contact
Institution
1
Denmark
Strait
RACE
(BMBF)
Detlef Quadfasel
detlef.quadfasel@zmaw.de
Kerstin Jochumsen
kerstin.jochumsen@zmaw.de
Hedinn Valdimarsson
hv@hafro.is
Hedinn Valdimarsson
hv@hafro.is
Steingrímur Jónsson
steing@unak.is
University of
Hamburg, Germany
Karin M. Larsen
KarinL@hav.fo
Faroe Marine Institute
2
North
Icelandic
Shelf
unknown
3
North of
Faroe
Islands
NACLIM, FG
Page 35
Marine Research
Institute, Iceland
Marine Research
Institute, Iceland
4
Faroe
Shetland
Channel
(two lines)
NACLIM, FG,
MS
Barbara Berx
b.berx@marlab.ac.uk
Karin Larsen
KarinL@hav.fo
Marine Scotland
Science
5
Faroe Bank
Channel
NACLIM, FG
Karin M. Larsen
KarinL@hav.fo
Faroe Marine Institute
6
Canada to
Greenland
to Scotland
RAGNARoCC
(NERC)
Stefan Gary
stefan.gary@sams.ac.uk
Stuart Cunningham
stuart.cunningham@sams.ac.uk
Scottish Association
for Marine Science
7
Scotland to
Iceland
NC
(NERC)
Stefan Gary
stefan.gary@sams.ac.uk
Stuart Cunningham
stuart.cunningham@sams.ac.uk
Scottish Association
for Marine Science
Faroe Marine Institute
Table A.3. Contact details for planned glider sections exploited by NACLIM.
For section numbers see Fig. 6.
Funding abbreviations:
FASTNEt: Fluxes Across Sloping Topography North East ATlantic programme;
NC: National Capability;
NERC: National Environment Research Council (UK);
Section
No.
Location
of section
Funder
Contact
Institution
1
Faroe
Shetland
Channel
FASTNEt
(NERC)
Barbara Berx
b.berx@marlab.ac.uk
Mark Inall
mark.inall@sams.ac.uk
Marine Scotland Science
Scotland to
Iceland
NC
(NERC)
Stefan Gary
stefan.gary@sams.ac.uk
Stuart Cunningham
stuart.cunningham@sams.ac.uk
Scottish Association
for Marine Science
2
Page 36
Scottish Association
for Marine Science
Appendix B. Websites of programmes linked to NACLIM
Table B.1. List of programmes linked to NACLIM, their funders and web addresses.
Funding abbreviations:
BMBF: German Federal Ministry for Education and Research;
EC: European Commission FP7 Program;
ICSU: International Council for Science;
IOC: Intergovernmental Oceanographical Commission; NC: National Capability;
NERC: National Environment Research Council (UK);
NSF: National Science Foundation (USA);
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA);
RAGNARoCC: Radiatively Active Gases from the North Atlantic Region and Climate Change programme;
UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme;
WMO: World Meteorological Organisation.
Programme
Funder
Website
RACE
BMBF
RAPID
NERC, NSF, NOAA
http://www.rapid.ac.uk
RAGNARoCC
NERC
http://www.greenhousegases.org.uk/ragnarocc
EEL
NC - NERC
http://projects.noc.ac.uk/ExtendedEllettLine
FASTNEt
NERC
http://www.bodc.ac.uk/projects/uk/fastnet/
OSNAP
NERC, NSF, NOAA
http://www.o-snap.org
OOI
NSF
http://oceanobservatories.org
FixO3
EC
http://www.fixO3.eu
EMSO
EC
http://www.emso-org.eu
GROOM
EC
http://www.groom-fp7.eu
http://race.zmaw.de
Page 37