Antarctic Ocean Current and Hydrographic Profile Measurements

Over 400 moorings and 1100 stations provide long-term measurements of currents and high-resolution vertical profiles from the Southern Ocean. The Alfred-Wegener-Institute collected this data using research vessels like Polarstern, starting in 1983 and continuing to the present. It focuses on the Weddell Sea region from approximately 30 to 85 degrees South.

Use Cases

• Model ocean current variability by analyzing time-series of Current-Direction and Current-Speed from mooring sensors like ADCP and AANDERAA meters.
• Study water mass formation by correlating Depth, Temperature, and Salinity profiles from CTD sondes like the MARK IIIB.
• Analyze long-term hydrographic trends in the Weddell Sea using parameters like Conductivity and Oxygen from vertical profiles spanning decades.
• Calibrate regional ocean models with in-situ measurements of Temperature and Salinity from both mooring (AVTS) and CTD station data.

Strengths

• Data spans from 1983 to present, providing a multi-decadal time series for climate studies.
• Covers approximately 400 current meter moorings and 1100 CTD stations, offering spatial density in the Weddell Sea.
• Specifies sensor types (e.g., ADCP, AANDERAA rotor meters, NEIL BROWN CTD) ensuring traceability of measurement methods.

Limitations

• Spatial coverage is biased towards the Weddell Sea, with less data from other Antarctic regions.
• Total database size of about 700 MB includes data from the Northern Hemisphere, indicating the Antarctic-specific subset is smaller.
• Access requires prior consultation with the Alfred-Wegener-Institute, which may delay or restrict use.

Provenance

Source

Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI), collected via research vessels Polarstern, Meteor, and Knorr.

Collection Method

In-situ measurements from current meter moorings and Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) casts at ocean stations.

Time Range

1983 to present.

Freshness

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Geography

Southern Ocean from about 30°S to 85°S, with a main focus on the Weddell Sea.