The Atlantic Circulation and Climate Experiment (ACCE) is directed at increasing our understanding of the interaction between the Atlantic Ocean and global climate. As a contribution to ACCE, NOAA joined several other NSF-funded investigators in deploying a North Atlantic-wide PALACE float array to study the processes important in establishing sea-surface temperature (SST) variability. NOAA's area of interest is the tropical Atlantic and PALACE floats were deployed along 6°S and the equator to provide current vectors at the sea surface and 1000m and temperature profiles every 10 days. These data not only will provide a regional perspective to address ACCE objectives, but when combined with other floats and observations and models, a basinwide perspective will be available.
The cruise SJ9703, conducted during the summer of 1997 aboard the R/V Seward Johnson, represents one of NOAA's contributions to ACCE. During this cruise, 19 PALACE floats were deployed along 6°N and 6°S. In addition to deploying the PALACE floats, two basinwide transects were occupied at the same latitudes, and a partial transect along the equator. CTD and XBT data were collected along the sections to study upper water column processes and the water mass transformations that occur between 6°S and 6°N (e.g., the effects of equatorial upwelling on upper layer water masses). Comparing direct current observations that include non-geostrophic components of flow with geostrophic estimates of current will provide a measure of the accuracy of Ekman transport estimates close to the equator.
The cruise 2000-01 took place in January 2000 aboard the R/V Seward Johnson. 12 PALACE were deployed along 25.5°W and 23°W. Additionally three CTD/LADCP sections were occupied. XBT data were collected between the stations. 8 drifters were launched to supplement the GOOS network. The obtained data will be used to study the variability of the temperatures and the circulation in the tropical Atlantic.
Preliminary reports on PALACE floats