The UK Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (UK-OSNAP)
Lead Research Organisation:
Scottish Association For Marine Science
Department Name: Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory
Abstract
UK-OSNAP: Summary
What is climate? The sun's energy is constantly heating the Earth in equatorial regions, while in the Arctic and Antarctic the Earth is frozen and constantly losing heat. Ocean currents and atmospheric weather together move heat from the equator towards the poles to keep the Earth's regional temperatures in balance. So climate is simply the heat moved by ocean currents and by the weather. Earth's climate is warming: the average temperature of the Earth is rising at a rate of about 0.75 degrees Centigrade per hundred years, caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere trapping heat that is normally lost to space. Can we forecast how climate might change in the future?
There is an old adage that rings true: "Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get". Hot weather in one summer does not tell us that climate is changing because the weather is so variable day-to-day and even year-to-year. We need to average over all the weather for a long time to decide if the climate is changing. We would like to know if the climate is changing before our descendants face the consequences, and that is where our project comes in. The ultimate ambition of climate scientists is nothing less than forecasting climate up to 10 years in advance.
Is this possible? After all we know weather forecasts become somewhat unreliable after three to five days. The answer is yes because of the ocean. Slow and deep currents give the ocean a memory from years to hundreds of years, and the ocean passes this memory onto the climate. If we know the condition of the ocean now, then we have a good chance of understanding how this will affect the climate in years to come.
We have set ourselves a huge task, but will be helped by colleagues in the US, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Denmark and Scotland. We will continuously measure the ocean circulation from Canada to Greenland to Scotland (the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean). This has never been attempted before. We have chosen the North Atlantic because the circulation here is important for the whole of Earth's climate. This is because in the high latitudes of the North Atlantic, and the Arctic Ocean that it connects to, the ocean can efficiently imprint its memory on the atmosphere by releasing the huge amounts of heat stored in it. In the UK we are on the same latitude as Canada and Siberia, and the Shetland Islands are further north than the southern tips of Greenland and Alaska, but the Atlantic Ocean circulation keeps the UK 5-10 degrees Centigrade warmer than those other countries.
We can measure across an entire ocean by deploying reliable, self-recording instruments. We will use moorings (wires anchored to the seabed and supported in the water by air-filled glass spheres) to hold the instruments in the important locations. Every year from 2014 to 2018 we will use ships to recover the moorings and the data, then put the instruments back in the water. We will also use exciting new technology. Autonomous underwater Seagliders will fly from the surface to 1 km depth on year long-missions surveying the ocean, from Scotland to 2000 km westward into the Atlantic. The Seagliders transmit their data to our lab every day via satellite, and the pilot can fly the glider remotely. Also there is a global fleet of 3000 drifting floats to continuously measure the top 1 km of the ocean. Satellites provide important measurements of the ocean surface. With these new measurements, we will find how the heat carried by the ocean changes through the months and years of the project, and we will use complex computer models to help explain what we find.
What is climate? The sun's energy is constantly heating the Earth in equatorial regions, while in the Arctic and Antarctic the Earth is frozen and constantly losing heat. Ocean currents and atmospheric weather together move heat from the equator towards the poles to keep the Earth's regional temperatures in balance. So climate is simply the heat moved by ocean currents and by the weather. Earth's climate is warming: the average temperature of the Earth is rising at a rate of about 0.75 degrees Centigrade per hundred years, caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere trapping heat that is normally lost to space. Can we forecast how climate might change in the future?
There is an old adage that rings true: "Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get". Hot weather in one summer does not tell us that climate is changing because the weather is so variable day-to-day and even year-to-year. We need to average over all the weather for a long time to decide if the climate is changing. We would like to know if the climate is changing before our descendants face the consequences, and that is where our project comes in. The ultimate ambition of climate scientists is nothing less than forecasting climate up to 10 years in advance.
Is this possible? After all we know weather forecasts become somewhat unreliable after three to five days. The answer is yes because of the ocean. Slow and deep currents give the ocean a memory from years to hundreds of years, and the ocean passes this memory onto the climate. If we know the condition of the ocean now, then we have a good chance of understanding how this will affect the climate in years to come.
We have set ourselves a huge task, but will be helped by colleagues in the US, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Denmark and Scotland. We will continuously measure the ocean circulation from Canada to Greenland to Scotland (the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean). This has never been attempted before. We have chosen the North Atlantic because the circulation here is important for the whole of Earth's climate. This is because in the high latitudes of the North Atlantic, and the Arctic Ocean that it connects to, the ocean can efficiently imprint its memory on the atmosphere by releasing the huge amounts of heat stored in it. In the UK we are on the same latitude as Canada and Siberia, and the Shetland Islands are further north than the southern tips of Greenland and Alaska, but the Atlantic Ocean circulation keeps the UK 5-10 degrees Centigrade warmer than those other countries.
We can measure across an entire ocean by deploying reliable, self-recording instruments. We will use moorings (wires anchored to the seabed and supported in the water by air-filled glass spheres) to hold the instruments in the important locations. Every year from 2014 to 2018 we will use ships to recover the moorings and the data, then put the instruments back in the water. We will also use exciting new technology. Autonomous underwater Seagliders will fly from the surface to 1 km depth on year long-missions surveying the ocean, from Scotland to 2000 km westward into the Atlantic. The Seagliders transmit their data to our lab every day via satellite, and the pilot can fly the glider remotely. Also there is a global fleet of 3000 drifting floats to continuously measure the top 1 km of the ocean. Satellites provide important measurements of the ocean surface. With these new measurements, we will find how the heat carried by the ocean changes through the months and years of the project, and we will use complex computer models to help explain what we find.
Planned Impact
Beneficiaries and how do they benefit?
Decadal and seasonal forecasters. Knowledge of the structure, behaviour and state of the sub-polar Atlantic is crucial to the skill of forecasting systems. OSNAP will provide observations to accurately form essential starting conditions, benefitting the UK Met. Office 'DePreSys' team.
UK, European and international climate modelers. The observations will provide valuable data to enable assessment, and subsequent refinement, of coupled ocean/climate models used for prediction. Modeling groups at UK Met. Office Hadley Centre and the UK National Centre for Ocean Forecasting will benefit. We will prepare tailored progress presentations for the Hadley Centre. Maximum benefit to the international climate modeling community will be ensured through links in the international OSNAP programme (US, Germany, Netherlands, Canada, France).
International and domestic climate policy and decision makers. Refinement of seasonal, decadal and climate models will contribute to increasingly reliable projections of future climate, thereby underpinning mitigation and adaptation strategies. International benefactors include future assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which synthesises international modeling work for the policy-making community; and also the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). Domestic beneficiaries include the Depts. of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Polar Desk; and the Scottish Government whose territorial waters extend into the region. The combination of OSNAP results with data from other locations, notably RAPID-WATCH 26N and the Nordic Seas (EU projects NACLIM and THOR), will aid detection of large-scale change in the system likely to influence regional climate and require modified adaptation/mitigation policies.
We will manage our User Community List for climate policy-making for circulating notification and summaries of relevant publications. We will engage with users (known and new) and assist with the extraction, presentation and analysis of OSNAP data; we will make extensive use of a website. We will publish an annual Project Summary Briefing for the climate policy community, outlining project progress and key findings. We will work with the UK Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership and the UK Climate Impacts Programme to ensure that findings are included in their reports including the 'Annual Report Card' and the AMOC Stakeholder Guidance Note. We will visit key policymakers throughout the project, and invite them to our Project's final UK meeting, shaping part of this meeting towards delivery of Project results within a user context.
Outreach. Ocean science is an exciting and engaging topic for the general public, particularly children. UK-OSNAP will showcase physical science and technology and inspire children in the science and engineering elements of the curriculum. The Scottish Ocean Explorer Centre in Oban will highlight the cutting edge technology with a particular focus on gliders, utilising live feeds of the incoming data and displays showing the tracks of the gliders. The highly-regarded oceans4schools.com website (Southampton) will carry regular features for pupils and teachers. The press offices of NERC, NOC, SAMS and U. Oxford will be kept appraised of newsworthy developments. We will exploit the publicity opportunities afforded by annual NOC & University Open Days. We will maintain cruise blogs targeted at non-scientific audiences.
We will disseminate findings by publication of articles in high-impact refereed journals and presentations at key international science conferences. We will develop a project website to act as a point of access for users of our results, reports and value-added data products.
Decadal and seasonal forecasters. Knowledge of the structure, behaviour and state of the sub-polar Atlantic is crucial to the skill of forecasting systems. OSNAP will provide observations to accurately form essential starting conditions, benefitting the UK Met. Office 'DePreSys' team.
UK, European and international climate modelers. The observations will provide valuable data to enable assessment, and subsequent refinement, of coupled ocean/climate models used for prediction. Modeling groups at UK Met. Office Hadley Centre and the UK National Centre for Ocean Forecasting will benefit. We will prepare tailored progress presentations for the Hadley Centre. Maximum benefit to the international climate modeling community will be ensured through links in the international OSNAP programme (US, Germany, Netherlands, Canada, France).
International and domestic climate policy and decision makers. Refinement of seasonal, decadal and climate models will contribute to increasingly reliable projections of future climate, thereby underpinning mitigation and adaptation strategies. International benefactors include future assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which synthesises international modeling work for the policy-making community; and also the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). Domestic beneficiaries include the Depts. of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Polar Desk; and the Scottish Government whose territorial waters extend into the region. The combination of OSNAP results with data from other locations, notably RAPID-WATCH 26N and the Nordic Seas (EU projects NACLIM and THOR), will aid detection of large-scale change in the system likely to influence regional climate and require modified adaptation/mitigation policies.
We will manage our User Community List for climate policy-making for circulating notification and summaries of relevant publications. We will engage with users (known and new) and assist with the extraction, presentation and analysis of OSNAP data; we will make extensive use of a website. We will publish an annual Project Summary Briefing for the climate policy community, outlining project progress and key findings. We will work with the UK Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership and the UK Climate Impacts Programme to ensure that findings are included in their reports including the 'Annual Report Card' and the AMOC Stakeholder Guidance Note. We will visit key policymakers throughout the project, and invite them to our Project's final UK meeting, shaping part of this meeting towards delivery of Project results within a user context.
Outreach. Ocean science is an exciting and engaging topic for the general public, particularly children. UK-OSNAP will showcase physical science and technology and inspire children in the science and engineering elements of the curriculum. The Scottish Ocean Explorer Centre in Oban will highlight the cutting edge technology with a particular focus on gliders, utilising live feeds of the incoming data and displays showing the tracks of the gliders. The highly-regarded oceans4schools.com website (Southampton) will carry regular features for pupils and teachers. The press offices of NERC, NOC, SAMS and U. Oxford will be kept appraised of newsworthy developments. We will exploit the publicity opportunities afforded by annual NOC & University Open Days. We will maintain cruise blogs targeted at non-scientific audiences.
We will disseminate findings by publication of articles in high-impact refereed journals and presentations at key international science conferences. We will develop a project website to act as a point of access for users of our results, reports and value-added data products.
Organisations
- Scottish Association For Marine Science (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) (Collaboration)
- Government of Canada (Collaboration)
- NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE (Collaboration)
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
Publications
Gary SF
(2020)
Larval behaviour, dispersal and population connectivity in the deep sea.
in Scientific reports
Gould W
(2021)
Global-scale patterns of observed sea surface salinity intensified since the 1870s
in Communications Earth & Environment
Holliday N
(2015)
Multidecadal variability of potential temperature, salinity, and transport in the eastern subpolar N orth A tlantic
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Holliday NP
(2020)
Ocean circulation causes the largest freshening event for 120 years in eastern subpolar North Atlantic.
in Nature communications
Holliday NP
(2018)
Subpolar North Atlantic Overturning and Gyre-Scale Circulation in the Summers of 2014 and 2016.
in Journal of geophysical research. Oceans
Houpert L
(2018)
Structure and Transport of the North Atlantic Current in the Eastern Subpolar Gyre From Sustained Glider Observations
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Houpert L
(2020)
Observed Variability of the North Atlantic Current in the Rockall Trough From 4 Years of Mooring Measurements
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Huthnance J
(2020)
Oceanic Density/Pressure Gradients and Slope Currents
in Journal of Physical Oceanography
Huthnance J
(2022)
Ocean shelf exchange, NW European shelf seas: Measurements, estimates and comparisons
in Progress in Oceanography
Hátún H
(2017)
The subpolar gyre regulates silicate concentrations in the North Atlantic.
in Scientific reports
Title | "How the north east Atlantic influences global climate" |
Description | Youtube animation on glider flight and data from OSNAP study area. Credit: Dr. Sam Jones, SAMS |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Impact | Audience engagement, understanding of mechanics of glider flight and the potential for high resolution data gathering in harsh oceanic environments |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7seFqfiDwm0 |
Title | Animation of robotic glider occupation of the eastern OSNAP line |
Description | Animation of robotic glider occupation of the eastern OSNAP line. Led to coverage by BBC Scotland (see separate entry) |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | Improved public understanding of OSNAP ocean monitoring |
Title | Animation of the DY120 cruise track, showing weather conditions encountered during cruise |
Description | Animation of the DY120 cruise track, showing weather conditions encountered during cruise. Also illustrating SAMS robotic glider occupying Ellett Array. |
Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Impact | Reached a large scientific and non-scientific audience. The combination of COVID challenges, the constant threat of adverse weather and a successful conclusion in the face of these challenges made for a compelling story. Initially shared through Twitter, later added to Youtube. |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRwmWWIIvDs&feature=emb_imp_woyt |
Title | Sculpture for Oban winter festival (Sam Jones, Andy Crabb) |
Description | Whale tail sculpture for Oban winter festival. Designed to highlight the impact of discarded fishing gear on wildlife. Currently on display in the Ocean Explorer Centre, SAMS, Oban. |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Impact | Increased public awareness of marine plastic pollution, bycatch |
URL | https://uk.whales.org/our-goals/prevent-deaths-in-nets |
Title | Short film on the AMOC for broad audience |
Description | A series of Paraview animations and narrative to introduce the AMOC to the public and explain the role of the OSNAP mooring array. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Impact | Increased public understanding of AMOC |
Description | Published in the journal Science, the study shows how a deep-ocean process in the North East Atlantic Ocean are playing a much larger role in regulating the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) than previously thought. The AMOC transfers heat from equatorial regions to the Arctic Ocean, driven by current and westerly winds and warming the atmosphere above. As a consequence, Scotland's climate is five to 10 degrees Celsius warmer than other maritime countries on a similar latitude. As these waters cool and sink - a process known as overturning - they absorb excess heat from the atmosphere, slowing the rate of global warming. In a departure from the prevailing scientific view, the study shows that the vast majority of the overturning in the Atlantic is occurring not in the Labrador Sea off Canada, as past modelling studies have suggested, but in regions between Greenland and Scotland. There, warm, salty, shallow waters carried northward from the tropics convert into colder, fresher, deep waters moving southward through the Irminger and Iceland basins. These new findings will help scientists better predict how the changing AMOC will affect our climate. |
Exploitation Route | -Form the basis for a new scientific framework on AMOC -help inform societal decisions on how we deal with the effects of climate change |
Sectors | Environment |
URL | https://www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-news-osnap-discovery-of-amoc-influence.html |
Description | The OSNAP programme substantially contributed to IPCC AR6 in advancing our understanding of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. The two key high level statements which we add to with this work are: IPCC 2021 states that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) will continue slowing over the 21st century (> 90 % likelihood). However, it only reports medium confidence that the AMOC will not pass a tipping point causing abrupt shifts in regional weather patterns, hydrological cycles and structural changes in UK agriculture and food security (Benton 2020; Ritchie et al. 2020). Thus, the trajectory and rate of AMOC change in the 21st century, which the Ellett Array monitors as part of the trans-Atlantic OSNAP array, is a central climate question that will have direct impacts on strategies for mitigation and adaption to climate change within the UK. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Climate change impacts on ocean circulation relevant to the UK and Ireland |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
URL | https://www.mccip.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-02/Climate%20Change%20Impacts%20on%20Ocean%20Circu... |
Description | Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) report |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
URL | http://www.mccip.org.uk/media/1999/mccip-report-card-2020_webversion.pdf |
Description | Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) report |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
URL | http://www.mccip.org.uk |
Description | Member of NERC Environmental Data Service (EDS) Strategic Need Advisory Working Group (SNAG). |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | European Commission |
Amount | € 8,600,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 308299 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 11/2012 |
End | 01/2017 |
Description | European Commission Horizon 2020 Funding |
Amount | € 21,000,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | SEP-210177333 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 03/2015 |
End | 07/2019 |
Description | European Commission Horizon 2020 Funding |
Amount | € 9,200,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 678760 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 03/2016 |
End | 03/2020 |
Description | MASTS Dynamics and Properties of Marine Systems |
Amount | £3,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Government of Scotland |
Department | Scottish Funding Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2015 |
End | 04/2016 |
Description | UK-OSNAP-Decade: 10 years of observing and understanding the overturning circulation in the subpolar North Atlantic (2014-2024) |
Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/T008938/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2023 |
End | 04/2025 |
Description | iAtlantic |
Amount | € 10,729,843 (EUR) |
Funding ID | Proposal number: SEP-210522255 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2020 |
End | 12/2021 |
Title | Autonaut - FETCH AZA data download / reprogramming |
Description | In September 2023 a groundbreaking experiment aimed to attempt the rendezvous and remote data download of a seabed pressure sensor in the Atlantic using a remotely piloted surface vehicle: a first for marine science. The data download confirmed that this procedure was possible, but highlighted a problem with the seabed pressure sensor. This culminated in a successful bug fix in the 11th hour, hopefully resulting in a year of good data generated before the next available communication via research vessel in July 2024. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Laying groundwork for autonomous vehicle download of remote mooring data. One additional year of calibrated pressure sensor records. |
Title | Contribution to IAPSO best practice group for moored CTD instruments |
Description | Contribution to IAPSO best practice group for moored CTD instruments. Assessing calibration methods for moored CTDs with the aim of establishing an international standard for mooring calibration. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | -'Lessons learned' shared between projects and institutions -'Best practice' methods established -Greater standardisation of practice between institutions and projects |
Title | Github Glider post-processing toolbox |
Description | A toolbox to read glider data, perform automatic and manual quality controls and plot the QC flagged data. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Used to prepare data for two publications associated with this award. |
URL | https://bitbucket.org/Lhoupert/oceano_data_toolbox |
Title | Github glider processing toolbox |
Description | Created a toolbox on Github to manage glider processing toolbox in a collaborative fashion. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improved collaboration on glider processing techniques, increased impact of glider data |
Title | Github mooring processing toolbox |
Description | Created a toolbox on Github to manage the OSNAP mooring processing and transport calculation programming code. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improvements for collaboration and standardisation with the international mooring community |
Title | Code used in Fox et al 2022. "Exceptional freshening and cooling in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic caused by reduced Labrador Sea surface heat loss" |
Description | Fox, A. D., Rath, W., and Schmidt, C.: Code used in Fox et al 2022. "Exceptional freshening and cooling in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic caused by reduced Labrador Sea surface heat loss", Zenodo [code], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6393656, 2022 |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improved understanding of the causes of the 2016 freshening event in the Eastern Atlantic |
Title | Code used in transport and flux analysis for Jones et al. 2023. "Observation-based estimates of volume, heat and freshwater exchanges between the subpolar North Atlantic interior, its boundary currents and the atmosphere" |
Description | Code used in transport and flux analysis for Jones et al. 2023. "Observation-based estimates of volume, heat and freshwater exchanges between the subpolar North Atlantic interior, its boundary currents and the atmosphere" |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improved characterisation of fluxes into and out of the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre |
Title | Hydrographic section data (dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity) from AR30-04 from the Eastern Boundary array (Rockall Trough), as part of UK OSNAP (Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Programme). |
Description | The dataset consists of water samples collected in the Rockall Trough along the Extended Ellett Line using the lowered rosette during cruise AR30-04 in July 2018. Samples were analysed for dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, nitrite+nitrate, phosphate, and silicate. The cruise took place under UK OSNAP (NE/K010875/1 and NE/K010875/2) and UK National Capability CLASS (NE/R015953/1). Sample analysis was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no. 678760 (ATLAS). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improved understanding of Rockal Trough chemistry |
URL | https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/published_data_library/catalogue/10.5285/0814056c-7d07-248b-e063-6c86abc... |
Title | Hydrographic section data (dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity) from DY078, May 2017, from the Eastern Boundary array (Rockall Trough), as part of UK OSNAP (Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Programme). |
Description | The dataset consists of water samples collected in the Rockall Trough along the Extended Ellett Line using the lowered rosette during cruise DY078 in May 2017. Samples were analysed for dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, nitrite+nitrate, phosphate, and silicate. The cruise took place under UK OSNAP (NE/K010875/1 and NE/K010875/2) and UK National Capability CLASS (NE/R015953/1). Sample analysis was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no. 678760 (ATLAS). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improved understanding of Rockall Trough chemistry |
URL | https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/published_data_library/catalogue/10.5285/0c3f44e7-8db9-04d5-e063-6c86abc... |
Title | Hydrographic section data (dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity) from DY120, October 2020, from the Eastern Boundary array (Rockall Trough) and Iceland Basin, as part of UK OSNAP (Overturning in the Subpolar... |
Description | The dataset consists of water samples collected in the Rockall Trough along the Extended Ellett Line using the lowered rosette during cruise DY120 in October 2020. Samples were analysed for dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, nitrite+nitrate, phosphate, and silicate. The cruise took place under UK OSNAP (NE/K010875/1 and NE/K010875/2) and UK National Capability CLASS (NE/R015953/1). Sample analysis was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no. 818123 (iAtlantic). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improved understanding of Rockall Trough chemistry |
URL | https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/published_data_library/catalogue/10.5285/0c665dcd-0bc9-6b5f-e063-6c86abc... |
Title | OSNAP Rockall Trough transport time series |
Description | The Rockall Trough mooring array consists of five moorings with the following objectives: Rockall Trough Western Boundary 1 (RTWB1) & Rockall Trough Eastern Boundary 1 (RTEB1) are end-point density moorings measuring the baroclinic circulation across the width of the Rockall Trough using CTDs distributed in the vertical; RTWB1 & RTWB2 measure the Wyville-Thomson Ridge overflow current along the Feni Ridge using current meters; RTEB1 measures the Shelf Edge Current using current meters. RTWB1 and RTEB1 include bottom pressure recorders to determine the barotropic variability across the Rockall Trough. The Rockall Trough section is also surveyed by glider, now used to measure the slope current east of EB1. This timeseries of volume, heat and salt transport through the Rockall Trough is calculated from the mooring data using the method of Houpert et al. (2018). Houpert, L., Inall, M. E., Dumont, E., Gary, S., Johnson, C., Porter, M., et al. (2018). Structure and transport of the north atlantic current in the Eastern Subpolar Gyre from sustained glider observations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 123, 6019- 6038. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JC014162 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Simple access to key measures of fluxes through the Rockall Trough for scientists from a range of disciplines. |
URL | https://thredds.sams.ac.uk/thredds/catalog/osnap/catalog.html?dataset=osnap/Rockall-Trough-Transport... |
Title | OSNAP gridded Rockall Trough mooring time series |
Description | The Rockall Trough mooring array consists of five moorings with the following objectives: Rockall Trough Western Boundary 1 (RTWB1) & Rockall Trough Eastern Boundary 1 (RTEB1) are end-point density moorings measuring the baroclinic circulation across the width of the Rockall Trough using CTDs distributed in the vertical; RTWB1 & RTWB2 measure the Wyville-Thomson Ridge overflow current along the Feni Ridge using current meters; RTEB1 measures the Shelf Edge Current using current meters. RTWB1 and RTEB1 include bottom pressure recorders to determine the barotropic variability across the Rockall Trough. The Rockall Trough section is also surveyed by glider, now used to measure the slope current east of EB1. The gridded timeseries presented here are quality controlled and science-ready data products generated from the individual moorings. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Ease of access to OSNAP Rockall Trough data for scientist from a range of disciplines, broadening its user base. |
URL | https://thredds.sams.ac.uk/thredds/catalog/osnap/catalog.html?dataset=osnap/Rockall-Trough-Mooring-T... |
Title | Rockall Trough BGC Transport Time Series Jul 2014 - Oct 2020 |
Description | Rockall Trough hydrographic observations and transports from moorings and gliders |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improved understanding of Rockall Trough hydrography |
URL | https://thredds.sams.ac.uk/thredds/catalog/osnap.html?dataset=osnap_bgc_2020 |
Title | Rockall Trough mooring RTEB1 stacked_time_series BGC 201705 202010 |
Description | Rockall Trough hydrographic observations and transports from moorings and gliders |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improved temporal coverage of Rockall Trough hydrography |
URL | https://thredds.sams.ac.uk/thredds/catalog/osnap.html?dataset=osnap_rtm_rteb1_2020 |
Title | Subpolar gyre boundary dataset |
Description | Subpolar gyre boundary dataset - A climatology of historical profile data optimised for the investigation of water properties around the boundary of the subpolar gyre. |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Circulation at the boundary of the subpolar North Atlantic influences both the horizontal (gyre) and vertical (overturning) components of the flow structure. While boundary current transport projects directly onto subpolar gyre strength, recent modelling studies have highlighted that buoyancy fluxes between the basin interior and the boundary, followed by rapid buoyancy export by boundary currents, are crucial steps in projecting air-sea interaction onto the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This work seeks observational insights into these key boundary processes. To achieve this, we have constructed a robust boundary climatology from quality controlled CTD and Argo hydrography since the turn of the millennium. Following the 1000 m isobath north of 47 °N and aggregating data into 100 km bins, we build a picture of the typical large-scale temperature and salinity structure for each month. This product will allow us to identify where and when important interior-boundary buoyancy fluxes take place over a seasonal cycle. A first step is to evaluate geostrophic flow into the boundary, and hence describe the vertical structure of advective buoyancy exchange. By appealing to satellite altimetry and Argo trajectories, we can also estimate turbulent eddy fluxes both at the surface and 1000 m depth. Models indicate these parameters are key in dictating the pathways for the AMOC lower limb, and we will place our observational findings in the context of these results. Boundary current strength is another key parameter dictating the export of dense water from the subpolar gyre. We will appeal to satellite altimetry to build corresponding climatologies for barotropic boundary flow. Furthermore, along-slope density gradients give rise to a baroclinic boundary current forcing term, which we aim to investigate here. Water density generally increases as we follow the gyre counter-clockwise, with the notable exception of the West Greenland Current section, and our product allows us to partition the spatially-varying contribution of temperature and salinity towards these density gradients. For example, we can evaluate the impact of cooling along the eastern boundary, or surface freshening around southern Greenland, on the dynamics of boundary flow. Ultimately, we would like to understand the evolution of the dynamical balance experienced by a hypothetical fluid parcel traversing the entire subpolar gyre. |
Title | Trajectories used in "Exceptional freshening and cooling in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic caused by reduced Labrador Sea surface heat loss" |
Description | Fox, A. D., Rath, W., and Schmidt, C.: Trajectories used in "Exceptional freshening and cooling in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic caused by reduced Labrador Sea surface heat loss", GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel [distributor] [dataset], https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12085/830c72af-b5ca-44ac-8357-3173392f402b, 2022 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | New understanding of the causes of the 2016 freshening event in the North-Eastern Atlantic. |
URL | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12085/830c72af-b5ca-44ac-8357-3173392f402b |
Title | UK OSNAP near real-time glider dataset |
Description | Houpert L.; Inall M.; Dumont E.; Cunningham S.A. (2018). UK OSNAP near real-time glider dataset. British Oceanographic Data Centre - Natural Environment Research Council, UK. https://doi.org/10/ckbr |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Used in two publications associated with this award |
Description | A Trans-AtLantic Assessment and deep-water ecosystem-based Spatial management plan for Europe (ATLAS) |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | MRC Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This EU H2020 funded programme is led by Prof. Murray Roberts. Cunningham (work package leader & PI) is instrumenting the eastern boundary OSNAP array with biogeochemistry sensors. This programme also funds an 80% post doc over 4-years who will work on research related to OSNAP. |
Collaborator Contribution | Murray Robers is the ATLAS PI (value of Euro 9.2 Million) |
Impact | none |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Blue Action: Arctic Impact on Weather and Climate |
Organisation | Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We contribute analysis of OSNAP and EEL observations to this EU H2020 project |
Collaborator Contribution | Wide EU collaborative network |
Impact | none |
Description | Canada - United Kingdom: Ocean Science and Technology Theme Canada Mission to the UK |
Organisation | Government of Canada |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Early stage talks with delegates from University of Victoria, Dalhousie University, Ocean Networks Canada, MEOPAR, Canadian National Research Council and Department of Fisheries and Oceans aimed at a collaborative approach to basin-scale oceanographic questions. |
Collaborator Contribution | Not yet applicable |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Drivers and Impacts of Variable shelf Edge tRanSport and Exchange (DIVERSE) |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Department | The Wessex Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Submission of NERC Standard Grant (Feb 2017) building on observations in this proposal |
Collaborator Contribution | Partner led this bid. |
Impact | NERC Standard Grant Submitted |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Extended Ellett Line (NERC National Capability Programme) |
Organisation | National Oceanography Centre |
Department | Marine Physics and Ocean Circulation |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Learned Society |
PI Contribution | Cunningham is Co-PI with Dr Penny Holliday (NOC) for the NERC National Cabability programme "The Extended Ellett Line" Cunningham leads a biennial cruise and annual seaglider sections from Scotland to Iceland This programme is a critical contribution to OSNAP, supporting the eastern boundary array observations |
Collaborator Contribution | Cunningham is Co-PI with Dr Penny Holliday (NOC) for the NERC National Cabability programme "The Extended Ellett Line" |
Impact | none |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | ICES expert working group on Oceanic Hydrography (WGOH) |
Organisation | International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Intellectual input, access to datasets, professional recommendations |
Collaborator Contribution | As above |
Impact | ICES. 2021. Working Group on Oceanic Hydrography (WGOH; outputs from 2020 meeting). ICES Scientific Reports. 3:91. 12 pp. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.8562 |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | : Scottish Parliament engagement event - Gliders for environmental science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The NERC reception aims to showcase NERC brand messages to Scottish parliamentary audiences and NERC advocates through a celebration of NERC science and people with a Scottish connection. The reception objectives are to: • Showcase NERC brand and messages to Scottish parliamentary audiences and NERC advocates through a celebration of NERC science and people with a Scottish connection, in support of our broader external affairs aims. • Demonstrate how NERC: o Helps find solutions to the problems facing people, society and the economy; o Works with Scottish parliament and policy-makers to ensure our evidence informs policy; o Engages the UK public with environmental science evidence. • Raise awareness, support and enthusiasm for NERC UnEarthed showcase with attendees through an element of fun! • Build closer relationships with a community of NERC advocates in Scotland from research, partner and parliamentary stakeholder groups. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Advise and coordination for ATLAS visualisations for Dynamic Earth, for COP26 conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participation in the team developing ATLAS visualisation, showcasing research output. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Animation illustrating glider flight and OSNAP oceanographic observations |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Movie detailing the mechanics of robotic glider flight and showing an example of glider data across the Iceland Basin. This was widely disseminated on Facebook and Twitter at the same time as the Science paper press releases and had high viewing figures. The Youtube link provided was added retrospectively. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7seFqfiDwm0 |
Description | BBC Scotland interview on Marine heatwaves |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BBC Scotland interview on marine heatwaves, Sam Jones and Stuart Cunningham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | BBC Scotland news item about ocean autonomy: Online news by Kevin Keane |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | M. Inall, L. Drysdale, H. Smith, K. Burmeister featured in BBC Scotland news about ocean autonomy: Online news by Kevin Keane, Radio Scotland on 24 Nov 2023, BBC Alba, 26 Nov 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67359467 |
Description | Blog posts during OSNAP DY120 cruise |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A series of blog posts during OSNAP DY120 cruise in October 2020, covering the challenges of mobilising during COVID, the science work taking place and the historical context to the cruise. Widely shared. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://projects.noc.ac.uk/class-project/blog |
Description | Blue Action Climate Emergency Briefing, Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Blue-Action: Arctic impact on weather and climate project held a societal engagement meeting at Edinburgh City Chambers. This was a well attended event with a wide range of stakeholders and academics present. A SAMS display was constructed showing a mock-up robotic glider and an animation depicting its operation, which created good interest after the formal session. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Climate change feature on BBC Alba |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Climate change feature in BBC Alba, interviewing Stuart Cunningham, Finlo Cottier, Mike Burrows, James Coogan |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Double page newspaper article on OSNAP DY120 cruise and historical context |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Double page newspaper article on OSNAP DY120 cruise and historical context, in Oban Times. Particularly relevant for the region as the cruise ended with RRS Discovery dropping scientists at SAMS in Oban, allowing local residents a rare chance to see a large research vessel up close. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2020/10/27/cruise-ship-returns-with-vital-climate-change-data/ |
Description | Dynamic Earth 'Meet the Scientists' open day as part of COP26 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Dynamic Earth 'meet the scientists' outreach event to coincide with COP26. Reached around 1500 people. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | European waters drive ocean overturning, key for regulating climate |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Online article on high-impact website which sets out the importance of the Lozier et al, 2019 OSNAP paper for understanding of overturning circulation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/du-ewd012819.php |
Description | Guest speaker for Uncrewed Maritime Systems (UMS) Certificate Programme, University of Southern Mississippi |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Guest speaker for Uncrewed Maritime Systems (UMS) Certificate Programs within the University of Southern Mississippi's School of Ocean Science and Engineering. The talk was on the use of robotics as part of an operational scientific mooring array. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Interview for BBC Alba RE AMOC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview for BBC Scotland RE AMOC, March 2024, Sam Jones, Kristin Burmeister, Neil Fraser |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Interview for BBC Scotland evening news |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview and animation on robotic underwater gliders. News segment on BBC Scotland radio 3rd Feb 2022, BBC Scotland evening news on 4th Feb 2022 with several staff members interviewed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Interview for national news - Prof Stuart Cunningham talk to John Beattie on BBC Radio Scotland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Prof Stuart Cunningham was on BBC Radio Scotland around lunchtime today (8/2/19). To give you an indication of the audience, BBC Radio Scotland has 749,000 (adults 15+) listeners per week in a population of 4,580,000 (adults 15+). The John Beattie Show is one of the most popular on the station. This was about the OSNAP paper. See URL (interview from 45.48 onwards.) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0002cs3 |
Description | Major study uncovers 'sea change' in world's understanding of Atlantic conveyor belt |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Article on high-impact website outlining the new understanding provided by the Lozier (2019) paper |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.carbonbrief.org/major-study-uncovers-sea-change-in-worlds-understanding-of-atlantic-conv... |
Description | News story on institution websiate and across social media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | News story on institution website and across social media - "Seas off the UK key to regulating climate" detailing the recent publication of first OSNAP results, and marking a shift in the prevailing view on heat transfer between Atlantic and Arctic. Picked up by > 210 news outlets including Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/01/31/surprising-new-picture-ocean-circulation-could-have-major-consequences-climate-science/?utm_term=.eaed879bc3d8 and AP: https://www.apnews.com/595bfe2060ef46d49d2417082e3cbd18 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-news-osnap-discovery-of-amoc-influence.html |
Description | POGO workshop: Best Practises in biogeochemical ocean observation: instrumentation, operation and quality control. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | POGO workshop, SAMS, 15th-17th June 2022. 14 international collaborators, 30 international participants |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Pennie Latin talks to Professor Stuart Cunningham named oceanographer of the year in 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | BBC Radio Scotland, Brainwaves, Episode 8, 28mins. Interview discussing my career as a Physical Oceanographer and my current research interests. I received a number of follow up email enquires from the general public, my fans (i.e. living relatives) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b053bmqf |
Description | Podcast on marine heatwaves |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Podcast on marine heatwaves, Euan Patterson, Sam Jones, Mike Burrows, September 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.buzzsprout.com/1080152/13611844 |
Description | Press Release associated with OSNAP moorings cruise and first deployment of biogeochemitstry sensors on the mooring array funded by EU programme ATLAS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Deep in the Atlantic Ocean: high-tech sensors to gather long-term biogeochemical data Press release: June 2017 The crew of the Royal Research Ship Discovery, a scientific research vessel of the United Kingdom, recently deployed high-technology biogeochemical sensors onto existing 'Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program' (OSNAP) moorings in the Rockall Trough, a major deep-water area in the North Atlantic Ocean. By taking continuous measurements in this important yet remote location, the sensors will contribute much needed long-term biogeochemical data to further our understanding of the interactions occurring in our ocean. The North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre, located in the North Atlantic subpolar region, is a large system of rotating ocean currents which forms a key component of the global climate system. In this region, the ocean warms the atmosphere (keeping northern Europe relatively mild) and atmospheric carbon dioxide is drawn into the deep ocean. The flow of energy and elements through the North Atlantic Ocean ultimately drives patterns of marine biodiversity at the ocean basin scale (www.ukosnap.org). OSNAP is an international program designed to provide a continuous record of physical ocean properties in the subpolar North Atlantic through an array situated on moorings which cross the Atlantic. The newly deployed equipment consists of sensors to additionally measure levels of nutrients, oxygen and pH in the Rockall Trough. A Remote Access Sampler (RAS) will simultaneously collect samples of seawater to validate and complement the automatically recorded data from the sensors. As Professor Stuart Cunningham, from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) explains, adding these new sensors to the existing infrastructure is an important step: "So far, only the physical parameters of ocean circulation data can be measured at the OSNAP array. Combining this data with the new biogeochemical measurements will, for the first time, give us a long time-series of changes of ocean currents, nutrient concentrations and more. This will be a big advance in our ability to understand the interactions of ocean physics with ocean ecosystems, particularly the cold-water coral systems of the Atlantic." This work was undertaken as part of the multidisciplinary EU-funded Horizon 2020 ATLAS project which aims to improve our understanding of the complexity of deep-sea ecosystems, and to predict future shifts and vulnerabilities of these ecosystems and their associated species. For more information on ATLAS, please visit: www.eu-atlas.org. The biogeochemical sensors that have been deployed are not new developments in themselves. However, as Prof Cunningham explains, "We are using them in a novel way. Combining biogeochemistry on this large physics array is ground breaking! By adding new observations of biogeochemical properties to existing large scale observing infrastructures we can make biogeochemical measurements at broader scales, matching the current physical observations. As a result, the possibilities and implications for understanding the critical processes occurring in our oceans are vast." Implementing key agreements to protect biodiversity and support adaptive ocean management requires improved knowledge on the Atlantic Ocean basin scale. ATLAS will contribute by enhancing the purpose-built trans-Atlantic array to deepen our understanding of the importance of ocean currents. Improved knowledge gained through the use of this unique basin scale infrastructure will help predicting ecosystem tipping points and understanding the link between ocean currents, species distribution and connectivity. This will, in turn, drive forward an ambitious new decision support tool for integrated Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) of the Atlantic Ocean. For more information on the sensors please contact: Prof Stuart Cunningham: Stuart.Cunningham@sams.ac.uk For more information on the ATLAS project, please visit: www.eu-atlas.org, follow @atlas_eu on Twitter or email Dr Claudia Junge (claudia@aquatt.ie). Notes for Editors ATLAS is a research and innovation action funded under the European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, grant No 678760. It is the largest integrated study of deep Atlantic ecosystems ever undertaken. The four-year project was launched in May 2016 and has a total budget of €9.1 million. Led by the University of Edinburgh (Scotland, UK) ATLAS brings together 24 partners (and one linked third party) from 10 European countries, the USA and Canada. It consists of 12 universities, four national research institutes, five small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and four government agencies. AquaTT (Ireland) is the project dissemination partner. SAMS, as the ATLAS partner in charge of the sensor deployment, have also been partly funded by the Horizon 2020 AtlantOS project to instrument part of the OSNAP array with these biogeochemical sensors, to contribute to exciting new work on our deep ocean. The Rockall Trough is a major deepwater area which lies to the west of Ireland and the United Kingdom. Enhanced hydrographic mixing, upwelling and down-welling around the adjacent Rockall Bank may give rise to localised and specialised biological communities such as sponge aggregations, Lophelia reefs, and coral gardens. The Rockall Bank supports large and productive stocks of fish, and has been proposed as an "Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area" under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The existing OSNAP moorings run across the Atlantic Ocean, from Canada to Greenland and from Greenland to Scotland. This array measures the circulation and heat and fresh-water fluxes to better understand the role of the Atlantic overturning circulation in Earth's climate. For more information, visit: www.ukosnap.org/project-information |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Public lecture, Royal Society of Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public lecture, Royal Society of Edinburgh entitled "Climate Change and COP26". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | School visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Demonstrator for school visit, approximately 40 pupils attended. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | School visit (Lochaber High School) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Neil Fraser spoke to two different year groups at Lochaber High School about SAMS' ocean physics research. These sessions were organized by one of the maths teachers and centered were aimed at showing career opportunities in mathematics and related subjects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Scottish Parliament visit to SMRF facility |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Clare Johnson hosted a visit to the Scottish Marine Robotics Facility (SMRF, SAMS) by a group from the Scottish Goverment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Talk at COP26 cryosphere pavilion in Glasgow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Talk / livestream at the cryosphere pavilion during COP26, Glasgow October 2021. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |