Category: Physical Oceanography

Voyage of collaboration: The XBT Network and the Ship Of Opportunity Program

Scientists and engineers at NOAA/AOML frequently participate in cruises in support of the NOAA/AOML eXpendable BathyThermograph (XBT) Network. Recently, Dr. Marlos Goes, a University of Miami CIMAS scientist, gave a short talk to the officers of the Vienna Express, a vessel from the Hapag-LLoyd company, about the importance of the Ship Of Opportunity Program (SOOP) […]

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Atlantic Niña on the verge of developing. Here’s why we should pay attention

This article was originally published on climate.gov on August 14th, 2024. Written by: Franz Philip Tuchen If you’re a regular reader of Climate.gov’s ENSO blog, then you know that scientists have been carefully observing how the Pacific Ocean is changing from El Niño’s warmer-than-average conditions earlier this year to expected cooler-than-average La Niña conditions by late […]

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NOAA research cruise supports key tropical Atlantic observing system

There and back again: NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter journeyed away from Pascagoula, Mississippi for 90+ days and 12,700+ nautical miles to conduct the PIRATA Northeast Extension cruise. A NOAA ship that traditionally sails in the Gulf of America embarked on a 90+ day journey into international waters and successfully completed its mission in support of […]

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New study finds a potential predictor for long-range US tornado forecasts

Tornadoes are among the deadliest and costliest natural disasters in the United States and are one of the hardest to predict. In December 2021, the most destructive winter tornado outbreak, known as the Quad-State Tornado Outbreak, caused 89 fatalities, 672 injuries, and at least $3.9 billion in property damages. Scientists at the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) and NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) investigated this outbreak and found that it occurred under an exceptionally strong and prolonged negative Pacific-North American (PNA) pattern, which created favorable conditions for tornado outbreaks.

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The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is weakening in the deep sea of the North Atlantic Ocean, study finds

Just in! A new study, which analyzed mooring observations and hydrographic data, found the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) abyssal limb in the North Atlantic has weakened over the past two decades contributing to sea level rise in the region. 

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From Mississippi to Australia: 3 Research Cruises Depart to Improve Understanding of the Atlantic and Southern Ocean

Scientists at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) are gearing up for a busy season at sea with three research cruises departing in the month of February. The A13.5 Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP) cruise, the I08S GO-SHIP cruise, and the Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA) Northeast Extension cruise will all depart in February to collect samples from the surface to the depths of the ocean and improve our understanding of ocean circulation, carbon uptake, biological conditions, and climate variability. 

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New Mapping Method Uses Sustained Observations to Estimate AMOC at 22.5°S

Changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its transport of heat can affect climate and weather patterns, regional sea levels, and ecosystems. A new study led by Ivenis Pita, a University of Miami PhD student working at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory/ the Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), is the first to estimate the AMOC and heat transport at 22.5°S in the South Atlantic, demonstrating the importance of sustained in situ observations to monitor the state of the AMOC. 

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12 Days of AOML Research

Happy Holidays to all!  As we close out 2023, join us as we look back at some of our top research highlights this year! From responding to heat waves to setting records and launching new tech, our dedicated team continues to push the boundary in an effort to support NOAA’s mission to build a climate-ready […]

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