FY 2011 A global boundary current circulation observing network Send, U., R. Davis, J. Fischer, S. Imawaki, W. Kessler, C. Meinen, B. Owens, D. Roemmich, T. Rossby, D. Rudnick, J. Toole, S. Wijffels, and L. Beal doi: 10.5270/OceanObs09.cwp.78, In Proceedings of the "OceanObs'09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society" Conference (Vol. 2), Venice, Italy, 21–25 September 2009, Hall, J., D.E. Harrison, and D. Stammer, Eds., ESA Publication WPP-306 (2010) Western and eastern boundary currents are key regions for understanding and monitoring the ocean's influence on and response to climate change processes. Yet the present global ocean observing is poorly suited for capturing the small scales, intense currents, often large vertical extent, the eddy-rich conditions, and (for eastern boundary currents) the biogeochemical and ecosystem variables needed. This paper reviews available technologies and methods, none of which can satisfy all requirements for the needed observing system. Therefore, merged hybrid approaches are proposed, which need to be evaluated in each case since conditions vary strongly. A global network is presented as a vision, of which 50% has at least partial implementations already. Feature Publications | Outstanding Scientific Publications Contact Sandra Bigley | Help
