The IPY Synoptic Antarctic ShelfSlope Interactions Study SASSI

The IPY Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions Study (SASSI) Alejandro H. Orsi Texas A&M University

Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions Study

Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions Study Long Term Goals • Understand quantify the observed freshwater variability at Antarctic shelf-slope regime • Asses the impact on global climate through its influence on both the shallow and deep meridional circulations of the Southern Ocean Through the implementation of an observing system over the Antarctic continental margins to monitor global climate change

Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions Study Theme 1: SASSI will provide a unique synoptic snapshot of the Antarctic continental shelf and slope environment, including physical (i. An. Zone), biogeochemical (GEOTRACES, SOLAS, IMBER) and biodiversity (Co. ML, GLOBEC) measurements: a legacy against which to measure future change. Theme 2: SASSI aims to understand parameterise the continental shelf/slope processes that are currently absent from climate models, yet are critical to understanding global climate variability.

Synoptic Antarctic Shelf-Slope Interactions Study Assessment of funding status Partly funded: 20 to 50% of resources needed to meet the science objectives Expected to be upgraded to the Mostly funded category (50 to 80%) by the end of 2006 Most certain contributions are from Australia, China, Germany, Japan, Norway, Russia and Spain Pending funding for Brazil, France, Italy, UK and US contributions Hydrographic work most likely to be completed as planned, but mooring arrays poorly subscribed

SASSI MOORINGS UK: 5 moorings (HOMER, ADCP, T, S, P, CMs) no section at 15 W ADELIE (20 stas, 40 surface drifters, 4 ARGOs) Norway/UK Filchner sill 5 moorings at 35 W (BIAC) Norway 3 moorings at 0 E (Fimbul Ice Shelf) Germany 1 south of Joinsvile/3 center/2 cape Norvegia moorings US/UK ARCHES 2 moorings Orkney Passage 4 moorings US ACROSS five moorings JAPAN one mooring at 65 E, 3 moorings at 140 E FRANCE 2 to 5 moorings ALBION Adelie Depression 10 moorings across Drake Passage Kerguelen Plateau moorings at gaps

Massive freshening of all Ross Sea waters slope outer shelf inner shelf Ross Sea Bottom Water production with evolving properties? varying source strengths? new sites or mechanisms?

i. An. Zone 10 th Biennial Meeting and SASSI Workshop Scheduled for 27 -28 August 2007 in Bergen, Norway to be collated with the Open Science Conference of the Polar Dynamics Meeting

ACROSS: Antarctic Cross-Road Of Slope Streamflows CTD, CFCs, isotopes ADCP surveys Moored Current Meter Array Turbulence Measurements Modeling

ACROSS: Antarctic Cross-Road Of Slope Streamflows Components: CTD, CFC Tracer, and ADCP surveys Moored Current Meter Array Turbulence Measurements Modeling

International Polar Year 2007 -2008 The Role of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in Past, Present and Future Climate: A Strategy for the International Polar Year