TOPIC 4: Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)

A NOPP Partnership for Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC): Focused Analysis of Satellite Data Sets

Lead PI: Dr. Peter Minnett, University of Miami, RSMAS

The proposed research will provide a targeted analysis of long time series of satellite data sets over the Atlantic Ocean to lay the foundation for the identification of signatures of changes in the AMOC. The analyses will result in new climatologies of satellite-derived parameters, with determinations of the seasonal and interannual variations, and are necessary to allow future detection of signals from a changing AMOC independent of those from other causes.

Number of Years: 3

Requested Funds: $629,527

Partners:

University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Remote Sensing Systems

Variability and Forcing Mechanisms of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Lead PI: Dr. Tong Lee, California Institute of Technology

The research team proposes to: 1) analyze the consistency and fidelity of nine publicly available global ocean data assimilation (ODA) products for their estimates of AMOC state and the associated meridional heat and freshwater transports over the entire basin of the Atlantic Ocean; 2) anatomize AMOC variability by decomposing it into different components that are associated with different dynamics and observations; 3) examine the meridional coherence and connectivity of the AMOC; and 4) study the sensitivities of AMOC to surface forcing and lateral sources of buoyancy forcing fromthe high-latitude North Atlanctic as well as the Southern and Indian Oceans. Ocean data assimilation products need to be evaluated in the context of exisiting observations to live up to the potential to provide estimates of AMOC variability and the associated meridional heat and freshwater transport.

Number of Years: 3

Requested Funds: $600,000

Partners:

California Institute of Technology
Harvard University
University of Hamburg, Germany
Laboratoire de Physique des Oceans, France

Observing System Simulation Experiments for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Lead PI: Dr. George Halliwell, University of Miami, RSMAS

The primary goal of the proposed research is to conduct Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) to determine optimum observing strategies for monitoring the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Observing systems are costly to design, deploy and maintain. To design an efficient system, it is necessary to identify the critical variables to be monitored, the spatial configuration of sensors, and the frequency of measurements necessary to identify and to characterize temporal and spatial trends.

Number of Years: 3

Requested Funds: $550,201

Partners:

University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

Atlantic MOC Observing System Studies Using Adjoint Models

Lead PI: Dr. Carl Wunsch, Massacusetts Institute of Technology

The proposed research is directed at observing system design and the use of satellite data sets for understanding the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and its variability. The research builds on the existing MIT-AER ECCO-GODAE estimates of the time-varying three-dimensional ocean circulation as estimated over 15 years. The Lagrange multiplier machinery would be used directly to understand MOC estimate sensitivity to existing and potential future observation systems. Specific attention will be paid to obtainin realistic error estimates for hypothetical data types and the refinement and extension of errors in the existing ones.

Number of Years: 4

Requested Funds: $842,938

Partners: