North Atlantic Observing SystemGerard McCarthy

NERC/NOC

North Atlantic ClimateEuropean Commission Framework 7 Collaborative Project §  Duration: 4 years + 3  Months, Oct. 2012 – Jan. 2017 §  Research Focus: Assessment of decadal climate forecasts §  Research Focus: Continuation of moored transport measurements§  Partner: 18 participating institutions (+1 Third party) from 9 European countries

4 universities12  research institutions2 national operational institutes §  5 Core themes, 12 work packages §  Project costs: 11 M€§  EU contribution:   8.6 Mio M€

NACLIM: An Overview

Moored Observations in NACLIM

• Greenland-Scotland Ridge

• OSNAP family

• Rekyannes ridge

• 54ºN array

• RAPID at 26ºN

Long-term moorings: Greenland-Scotland Ridge

Greenland-Scotland Ridge:• Denmark Strait• Iceland-Faroe Atlantic

inflow• Faroe-Shetland Channel• Faroe Bank Channel

Denmark Straits

• About half dense water overflow from Nordic Seas through Denmark Straits

• Monitored since 1996• Mean of 3.4 Sv (var: 2.0 Sv)• No trend

Jochumsen et al., Variability of the Denmark Strait overflow: moored time series from 1996-2011, JGR Oceans, 2013

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Faroe-Bank Channel

• Around 2 Sv of deep water through the FBC

• Monitored since 1995

Hansen and Osterhus, Faroe Bank Channel overflow 1995–2005, Prog. Oc., 2007

Faroe-Shetland Channel

• 2.7±0.5Sv mean strength• Timseries from 1992 (combined

moorings and altimetry)

Berx et al., 2013, Combining in situ measurements and altimetry to estimate volume, heat and salt transport variability through the Faroe–ShetlandChannel. Oc. Sci.

7.1 Sv+- 1 Sv

GSR totals

Shetland branch

Faroe branch

Iceland branch

• Total inflow across GSR is 7 Sv

• Overflows (FBC+DS) is 6 Sv

• No trend in transport

• Noticeable increase in

temperature

NACLIM and OSNAP

The 53ºN array

RekjyannesRidge

The 53ºN Array

Located at exit of Labrador SeaJoint Canadian (C1-C3,K7), US (K7) and GermanNACLIM PI: Johannes Karstensen (GEOMAR)

Rejkyannes Ridge

4 moorings on west flank of the RRWill be deployed this year (1 year delayed) for 3 times 1 year measuring velocities, T and CNACLIM PI Laura de Steur (NIOZ)

NACLIM and OSNAP

The 53ºN array

RekjyannesRidge

• 53ºN Array (J. Karstensen-GEOMAR)

• Rekjyannes Ridge (L. De Steur-NIOZ)

• Extras: Labrador sea mooring; SAMS activities

• Predictability of ocean surface state:• the SST in the Nordic Seas

• Predictability of the atmosphere• Sea-ice and snowfall• Polar lows

• Impact on the oceanic ecosystem• e.g. blue whiting catches and sub-polar gyre

• Impact on urban societies• Urban heat islands

• Data management and outreach

NACLIM Extras

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