Recent and Ongoing Changes in the High-latitude Atlantic (ROCHA)

北大西洋高纬度海域目前正在经历与人为气候变化有关的重大变化(海洋变暖、冰盖减少和向大气中损失的热量大幅增加)。这些海域，特别是拉布拉多海、伊尔明格海和北欧(林)海是全球海洋环流的关键北部地区。在最近的研究中，我们根据Argo浮标和海洋哺乳动物携带传感器(MMBS)的数据开发了拉布拉多海和伊明格海2004-2008年的温度数据集。我们对这一数据集的分析表明，在广泛使用的国际数据集中，对海洋边界洋流温度的估计过高，最高可达2摄氏度。无论是对该地区气候变化影响的观测还是基于模型的研究，识别这种温暖的偏向都是至关重要的。在我们之前的研究中，我们被限制在一个小的空间域和一个有限的时间段，截止到2008年。然而，由于Argo Float计划的扩大，新的MMBS数据的提供，以及首次纳入滑翔机和船基测量，我们现在可以开发一个新的大大增强的数据集。具体地说，我们现在能够将空间领域扩大到包括北欧海(从而包括所有北大西洋致密水形成区)和2003-2012年的时间段(使我们能够全面审查过去十年的关键变化)。此外，现在可以包括盐度和温度，从而使人们能够对淡水含量和海洋密度的变化有新的见解。我们建议开发一个世界领先的新的T和S数据集，覆盖拉布拉多海、伊尔明格海和北欧海，这将是第一个在该地区使用所有可用观测的数据集。此外，我们将使用新数据集来。)确定林海最近和正在发生的变化，以及b.)严格评估NEMO海洋模型(NERCS海洋的旗舰计算机模型)，从而确定在多大程度上可以依赖它在这一领域提供进一步的见解。这项拟议的研究是我们先前研究的一个重大进展，也是至关重要的，因为临海被广泛认为是及早发现气候变化影响的关键指示区。

The high latitude seas of the North Atlantic are currently experiencing major changes (ocean warming, declining ice cover and major increases in heat loss to the atmosphere) associated with man-made climate change. These seas, specifically the Labrador, Irminger and Nordic (LIN) Seas are the key northern sites for the global ocean circulation. In recent research, we developed a temperature dataset spanning 2004-2008 for the Labrador and Irminger Seas from Argo float and Marine Mammal-Borne Sensor (MMBS) data. Our analysis of this dataset revealed that estimates of ocean boundary current temperatures in widely used international datasets are too warm by up to 2 deg Centigrade. Identification of such warm biases is critical to both observation and model-based studies of climate change impacts in this region. In our earlier study, we were restricted to a small spatial domain and a limited time period ending in 2008. However, as a result of expansion of the Argo float programme, new availability of additional MMBS data and the inclusion for the first time of glider and ship based measurements, we are now in position to develop a new much-enhanced dataset. Specifically, we are now able to extend the spatial domain to include the Nordic Seas (thereby including all North Atlantic dense water formation regions) and the time period to 2003-2012 (allowing a full examination of key changes in the past decade). In addition, it is now possible to include salinity as well as temperature, thereby enabling new insights into changing freshwater content and ocean density. We propose to develop a world-leading new T and S dataset covering the Labrador, Irminger and Nordic Seas, which will be the first to employ all available observations across this region. Furthermore, we will use the new dataset to a.) determine recent and ongoing changes in the LIN Seas, and b.) critically evaluate the NEMO ocean model (NERCs flagship computer model of the ocean) and thus identify the extent to which it can be relied upon to provide further insights in this area. The proposed research is a major advance on our previous study and is vital as the LIN Seas are widely recognised to be a key indicator region for the early detection of climate change impacts.