FY 2005
Global repeat hydrographic/CO2/tracer surveys in support of CLIVAR and global carbon cycle objectives: Carbon inventories and fluxes
Feely, R.A., R. Wanninkhof, C. Sabine, G. Johnson, M. Baringer, J. Bullister, C.W. Mordy, and J.-Z. Zhang
In The State of the Ocean and the Ocean Observing System for Climate, Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2004, NOAA/OGP/Office of Climate Observation, Section 3.15a, 149–168 (2005) |
The Repeat Hydrography CO2/tracer Program is a systematic and global re-occupation of select
hydrographic sections to quantify changes in storage and transport of heat, fresh water, carbon
dioxide (CO ), chlorofluorocarbon tracers and related parameters. It builds upon earlier programs
(e.g., World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE)/Joint Global Ocean Flux Survey (JGOFS)
during the 1990s) that have provided full depth data sets against which to measure future changes, and have shown where atmospheric constituents are getting into the oceans. The Repeat
Hydrography CO/tracer Program (Fig. 1; Table 1) will reveal much about internal pathways and
changing patterns that will impact the carbon sinks on decadal time scales. It is designed to
assess changes in the ocean's biogeochemical cycle in response to natural and/or man-induced
activity. Global warming-induced changes in the ocean’s transport of heat and freshwater, which
could affect the circulation by decreasing or shutting down the thermohaline overturning, can be
followed through long-term measurements. Below the 2000 m depth of the Argo array, Repeat
Hydrography is the only global measurements program capable of observing these long-term
trends in the ocean. The program will also provide data for the Argo sensor calibration (e.g.,
www.argo.ucsd.edu), and support for continuing model development that will lead to improved
forecasting skill for oceans and global climate.
By integrating the scientific needs of the carbon and hydrography/tracer communities, major
synergies and cost savings have been achieved. The philosophy is that in addition to efficiency, a
coordinated approach will produce scientific advances that exceed those of having individual
carbon and hydrographic/tracer programs. These advances will contribute to the following
overlapping scientific objectives: 1) data for model calibration and validation; 2) carbon
inventory and transport estimates; 3) heat and freshwater storage and flux studies; 4) deep and
shallow water mass and ventilation studies; and 5) calibration of autonomous sensors. |
