Atlantic meridional overturning circulation observed by the RAPID-MOCHA-WBTS array at 26°N from 2004 to 2022
Data set information
| Query EDMED |
| General | |
| Data holding centre | British Oceanographic Data Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom  |
| Project | Rapid Climate Change |
| Time period | 01 April 2004 to 15 February 2022 |
| Ongoing | No |
| Geographical area | North Atlantic across 26.5N from Florida Straits to African coast |
| Observations | |
| Parameters | Vertical spatial coordinates; Date and time; Lagrangian currents and transport rates in the water column; Salinity of the water column; Temperature of the water column; Transport in the water column |
| Instruments | Current profilers; submarine cables; CTD; current meters |
| Description | |
| Summary | The RAPID-MOCHA-WBTS dataset comprises measurements of current velocity, temperature, salinity and pressure. Oceanic volume transports are calculated from these variables resulting in continuous measurements of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Data collection is obtained from a mooring array across 26.5N in the Atlantic Ocean and cable measurements across the Florida Straits. The measurement array extends from the Bahamas to the African coast. The data have been measured continuously between April 2004 and February 2022. The data are collected periodically (currently every 18 months) from various UK and USA research cruises. Measurements between the Bahamas and Africa were made using a variety of MicroCat CTD sensors, various current meters and ADCP. All instruments are located on 18 moorings in various locations at 26.5N. An undersea cable makes current velocity measurements across the Florida Straits. The RAPID-MOCHA-WBTS programme aims to deliver a multi-decadal time series of observations of AMOC. The observations will be used with data from other sources to determine and interpret recent changes in the AMOC, to assess the risk of rapid climate change due to changes in the MOC, and to investigate the potential for predicting the MOC and its impacts on climate. The RAPID-MOCHA-WBTS programme is a joint effort between NERC in the UK (the UK Principal Investigator is Ben Moat), NOAA (Molly Baringer) and RSMAS (Prof. Bill Johns) in the USA. The Atlantic MOC transport (and its components), calculated from the above data, and gridded files of temperature and salinity are held by BODC in NetCDF format. |
| Originators | National Oceanography Centre (Southampton) |
| References | McCarthy, G.D.; Smeed, D.A.; Johns, W.E.; Frajka-Williams, E.; Moat, B.I.; Rayner, D.; Baringer, M.O.; Meinen, C.S.; Collins, J.; Bryden, H.L. (2015) Measuring the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at 26°N, Progress in Oceanography |
| Data web site | https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/published_data_library/ |
| Availability | |
| Organisation | British Oceanographic Data Centre |
| Availability | Unrestricted |
| Contact | Polly Hadžiabdić (Head of the BODC Requests Team) |
| Address | British Oceanographic Data Centre |
| Telephone | +44 (0)782 512 0946 |
| enquiries@bodc.ac.uk | |
| Administration | |
| Collating centre | British Oceanographic Data Centre |
| Local identifier | 1048RAPIDMOCHA_AMOC |
| Global identifier | 6178 |
| Last revised | 2023-09-12 |
