Regionales Rechenzentrum der Universität Hamburg/ MCC/ Lecture2Go
Verlag/Körperschaft:
Universität Hamburg
Erscheinungsjahr:
2023
Medientyp:
Audiovisuell
Schlagworte:
AMOC
physical oceanography
observations
TRACOS array
Sonstiges
Beschreibung:
Abstract: The upper-ocean circulation of the tropical Atlantic is a complex superposition of thermohaline and wind-driven flow components. This means that the northward AMOC branch in the tropics is e.g. superimposed by the shallower overturning associated with the wind-driven Subtropical cells, which connect the subduction sites of the subtropics with climate-relevant eastern equatorial upwelling regions. The TRACOS array aims at observing most of the TRopical Atlantic Circulation & Overturning at 11°S. At the western boundary five tall moorings were deployed off Brazil between 2000 and 2004 to monitor the variability of the strong western boundary current (WBC) system - more specifically, the North Brazil Undercurrent (NBUC) and the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC). Due to the success of this array, a similar mooring constellation has been installed off Brazil since July 2013 until now. In addition to the moorings, numerous ship-sections along 5°S and 11°S are accomplished. At the eastern side the Angola current is observed since 2013 with 1-2 moorings. Simultaneously to the boundary observing systems, the observational program at 11°S was extended in 2013 to observe the basin wide circulation: Bottom pressure sensors (BPRs) were deployed on both sides of the basin. The BPRs and all ship surveys are used to estimate AMOC variability at 11°S on seasonal to interannual time scales. Especially, in combination with other AMOC arrays or embedded in the TAOS or PIRATA programs, this array has great potential for understanding mechanisms relevant for tropical Atlantic variability, as well as meridional coherence and long-term changes of AMOC variability. Slides: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7774572
