RAPID-Evolution
Lead Research Organisation:
NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE
Department Name: Science and Technology
Abstract
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a system of ocean currents that circulate water around the Atlantic Ocean.
It is a vital part of the Earth's climate system, playing a significant role in regulating global climate and weather patterns.
We need to Continuously observe the AMOC for several reasons:
1. Understanding Climate Change: Continuous observations of the AMOC help scientists better understand how climate change affects the ocean's circulation and heat transport. By continuously monitoring the AMOC, researchers can identify changes in its intensity, speed, and location, which can help them make more accurate predictions about future changes in the climate.
2. Improving Climate Models: Continuous observations of the AMOC help improve climate models by providing data to validate and refine model predictions. This information can help scientists make more accurate projections about the effects of climate change on various aspects of the Earth's ecosystem, such as sea levels, ocean acidity, and weather patterns.
3. Detecting Abrupt Changes: Abrupt changes in the AMOC could have significant impacts on the Earth's climate and weather patterns. Continuous monitoring of the AMOC can help scientists detect such changes early, allowing for timely intervention and mitigation strategies to be put in place.
4. Understanding Ecosystems: The AMOC plays a critical role in regulating oceanic ecosystems, and continuous observations can help researchers better understand how changes in the AMOC affect marine life, such as plankton, fish, and other organisms.
5. Predicting Extreme Weather Events: The AMOC has a significant impact on weather patterns, and continuous monitoring can help researchers make more accurate predictions about extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts.
Overall, continuous observations of the AMOC are essential for understanding the Earth's climate system and its impact on various aspects of our planet, including the environment, ecosystems, and human societies. By continuously observing the AMOC, we can improve our understanding of the Earth's climate system, and better predict and prepare for the effects of climate change.
The AMOC has been observed at 26N between Florida and Africa since 2004. This is heavily reliant on tall moorings in the water and research ships to collect the data and replace the moorings.
In this programme, we will exploit new technologies to design a fit-for-purpose sustainable AMOC observing system at substantially lower cost than at present and deliver data back via satellite.
This will allow us to deploy an optimised lower-cost 26N AMOC observing system from 2027.
It is a vital part of the Earth's climate system, playing a significant role in regulating global climate and weather patterns.
We need to Continuously observe the AMOC for several reasons:
1. Understanding Climate Change: Continuous observations of the AMOC help scientists better understand how climate change affects the ocean's circulation and heat transport. By continuously monitoring the AMOC, researchers can identify changes in its intensity, speed, and location, which can help them make more accurate predictions about future changes in the climate.
2. Improving Climate Models: Continuous observations of the AMOC help improve climate models by providing data to validate and refine model predictions. This information can help scientists make more accurate projections about the effects of climate change on various aspects of the Earth's ecosystem, such as sea levels, ocean acidity, and weather patterns.
3. Detecting Abrupt Changes: Abrupt changes in the AMOC could have significant impacts on the Earth's climate and weather patterns. Continuous monitoring of the AMOC can help scientists detect such changes early, allowing for timely intervention and mitigation strategies to be put in place.
4. Understanding Ecosystems: The AMOC plays a critical role in regulating oceanic ecosystems, and continuous observations can help researchers better understand how changes in the AMOC affect marine life, such as plankton, fish, and other organisms.
5. Predicting Extreme Weather Events: The AMOC has a significant impact on weather patterns, and continuous monitoring can help researchers make more accurate predictions about extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts.
Overall, continuous observations of the AMOC are essential for understanding the Earth's climate system and its impact on various aspects of our planet, including the environment, ecosystems, and human societies. By continuously observing the AMOC, we can improve our understanding of the Earth's climate system, and better predict and prepare for the effects of climate change.
The AMOC has been observed at 26N between Florida and Africa since 2004. This is heavily reliant on tall moorings in the water and research ships to collect the data and replace the moorings.
In this programme, we will exploit new technologies to design a fit-for-purpose sustainable AMOC observing system at substantially lower cost than at present and deliver data back via satellite.
This will allow us to deploy an optimised lower-cost 26N AMOC observing system from 2027.
