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Transcript
Observing the Oceans for Science and Society -Climate February 2013 The Cape Verde Observatories - Coupled Ocean and Atmosphere Research in the Tropics Arne Körtzinger GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel [email protected] The existence of global climate change is scientifically beyond doubt and has become a common place in public discussion and opinion. Still though, our current understanding of the complex interactions of atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere is rather limited, particularly with respect to the consequence and feedback potential of climate-driven change. This is even more the case for the tropics, a key region of the global climate system, in which ocean and atmosphere are coupled in multiple and most dynamic ways. The high scientific relevance of the tropics in marine and atmospheric sciences is contrasted, however, with a striking lack of scientific infra-structure and long-term observations. Since 2004, a consortium of research institutions in Germany (GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, MPI Jena – Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, TROPOS - Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research in Leipzig), the UK (University of York) and Cape Verde (INDP - National Institute for Fisheries Development, INMG - National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics) have been conducting interdisciplinary field campaigns and long-term observations of the Earth System at or near the Cape Verde Archipelago which has proven to be an excellent research base. In 2006, two observatories, an oceanic and an atmospheric site, have been established by the partners: 1) CVOO: The Cape Verde Ocean Observatory, about a 100 km northeast off the coast of São Vicente Island, consisting of a mooring in a water depth of 3700 m. Continuous measurements are made from the multidisciplinary mooring as well as from autonomous Activities at The Cape Verde Observatories profiling instruments which are operated in process study mode and telemeter their data in near realtime. The combination provides long-term data for basic parameters such as temperature, salinity, chlorophyll fluorescence, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and dissolved CO2. More complex biological and chemical measurements rely on monthly visits for water sampling from the RV Islândia, operated by colleagues from the INDP. Samples are returned to a newly-equipped laboratory ashore for processing at the Institute for Fisheries Development INDP in Mindelo or in the laboratories of partner GEOMAR. http://cvoo.geomar.de/ 2) CVAO: The Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory is located near Calhau on the Island of São Vicente on the windward side of the island on an ancient lava field, close to the ocean. Steady NE trade winds bring air directly from the ocean to the measurement systems without risk of land-based contamina¬tion. The site houses a 30 m sampling tower and five containerized laboratories with a great variety of sophisticated instrumentation that makes continuous measurements of trace gases, greenhouse gases and aerosols as well as meteorological parameters possible http://www.ncas.ac.uk/index.php/en/cvao-home Both observatories have been set up in combination and allow for studying climate relevant biogeochemical interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere in a unique way: 1) The region is home to one of the major and most productive upwelling systems, which represents a biodiversity hotspot that is under growing human pressure. 2) The region features one of the ocean’s natural oxygen minimum zones, which has been shown to expand and intensify in recent decades. This has major long-term implications for marine life. 3) The region is the world ocean’s most prominent deposition region for mineral dust of terrestrial origin, which has major implications for marine productivity, making it highly sensitive to climate change. 4) The region is characterized by strong emissions of radiatively (CO2, N2O, CH4) and chemically active (oxygenated and halogenated) trace gases, which have significant implications for atmospheric properties. The sustainability of the young Cape Verde Ocean and Atmosphere Observatories depends critically on the development of a modern and versatile local research infrastructure. Better understanding of the complex climate system is a prerequisite for adequate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The research institutions above mentioned have made a strong commitment to research in the tropics at Cape Verde in an internationally visible way. Currently GEOMAR and INDP are establishing a fully-fledged research centre in close neighborhood to the existing INDP. The centre will host laboratories, offices and seminar rooms, workshops, a large hall and technical infrastructure for repair, maintenance and storage of oceanographic equipment. The station and its linked infrastructure of CVOO and CVAO shall be available to both the national and international marine scientific and atmospheric community and provide opportunities for capacity building in whole West Africa.