Collaborative Research: The Oleander project: High-resolution observations of the dynamic ocean between New Jersey and Bermuda

该项目将持续五年，加强来自MV Oleander的数十年海洋观测，这是一艘集装箱船，每周计划穿越四个不同的区域，即新泽西和百慕大之间的大陆架、坡海、墨西哥湾流和马尾藻海。改进措施包括一对声学多普勒海流剖面仪(ADCP)，它一方面将直接测量通过温跃层底部到公海约1200米深的海流，另一方面将提供对上层海洋的高垂直分辨率剖面图。前者将有助于研究墨西哥湾流、中尺度涡旋场和高度可变的马尾藻海的整个上层海洋结构，所有这些都是大尺度海洋环流的重要组成部分，包括具有气候意义的经向翻转环流(MOC)。后者将极大地提高大陆架的覆盖率、陆架破裂锋面和混合层季节性温跃层结构的分辨率。夹竹桃路径具有独特的位置，因为它能够通过北大西洋亚极涡旋的最南端延伸，以及进入副热带涡旋的最南端，进行跨陆架和斜坡的现场测量。这些ADCP快照的美丽之处在于，它们告诉我们海洋在广泛的尺度上所做的事情。对这些数据集进行平均将产生可靠的数据集，这将有助于继续和深入地研究(1)大西洋中部海湾大陆架的季节性、年际和年代际变化，(2)控制大陆架和开阔海洋之间通信的动力学，(3)不同纬度MOC中沿西部边界的连通性，(4)墨西哥湾流位置、强度和亚极地涡旋结构的年际至年代际变化，以及马尾藻海的再循环。此外，个别路径提供的地表盐度、温度和速度的高水平分辨率将使对次中尺度过程的继续调查成为可能。替换船预计将在项目的第二年或第三年投入使用。随着在新船体上安装两个新的ADCP，一个用于改善陆架斜坡操作，另一个用于剖面至1200米深，Oleander项目将极大地增加其在西北大西洋的观测足迹。所有数据一旦经过处理和质量控制，就会立即向公众开放。夏威夷大学联合国最不发达国家办事处的全系统ADCP数据采集系统UHDAS的扩展包括志愿观测船，这将不仅使来自Oleander的实时数据流，而且使在北大西洋作业的其他此类配备ADCP的船只能够实时传输数据流。

This project will extend for five years and enhance the multi-decadal oceanographic observations from the MV Oleander, a container vessel that on a weekly schedule crosses four distinct regions, namely the continental shelf, Slope Sea, Gulf Stream and Sargasso Sea on its route between New Jersey and Bermuda. The enhancements include an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) pair that will provide direct measurement of the currents through the base of the thermocline to about 1200 m depth in the open ocean on the one hand, and high vertical resolution profiling of the upper ocean on the other. The former will enable research into the full upper ocean structure of the Gulf Stream, the mesoscale eddy field, and the highly variable Sargasso Sea, all of which are important components in the large scale ocean circulation including the climatically important meridional overturning circulation (MOC). The latter will greatly improve coverage on the continental shelf, shelfbreak front and resolution of the mixed layer seasonal thermocline structure.The Oleander track is uniquely situated as it enables in situ measurements across the shelf and slope, through the southernmost extension of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre, and into the subtropical gyre. The beauty of these ADCP snapshots is that they tell us what the ocean is doing over a wide range of scales. Ensemble averaging these leads to robust data sets that will contribute to continued and deeper investigations into (1) seasonal, and interannual to decadal variability on the mid-Atlantic Bight shelf, (2) dynamics controlling the communication between the shelf and open ocean, (3) connectivity along western boundaries in the MOC at different latitudes, and (4) interannual to decadal variability in the Gulf Stream position, strength and the structure of the subpolar gyre, and the recirculation in the Sargasso Sea. In addition, the high horizontal resolution of surface salinity, temperature and velocity afforded by individual tracks will enable continued investigation into sub-mesoscale processes. A replacement ship is expected to enter service in the second or third year of the project. With the installation of two new ADCPs on the new hull, one for improved shelf-slope operation and one to profile to 1200 m depths, the Oleander project will greatly increase its observational footprint in the northwest Atlantic. All data will be available to the public as soon as they are processed and quality-controlled. The expansion of the University of Hawaii UNOLS-wide ADCP data acquisition system, UHDAS to include volunteer observing ships will allow for real time data streams from not only the Oleander, but also other such ADCP-equipped vessels in operation in the North Atlantic.