working groups. From the beginning, a strategy
was adopted that explored both inverse and direct
models. At the time, in the mid-1980s, eddyresolving models were evolving only at the basin
scale though the NEG was predicting the availability of global eddy-resolving models soon after the
end of the twentieth century. The wish for a
detailed input by modellers into experimental
design, first stated in MODE and reiterated in
NEG’s first report, remained elusive.
With the reports of the working groups available, the SSG identified three major components
(Core Projects – CP) of the programme:
¥ CP1, the Global Description, provided the unified framework for a global set of in-situ and
satellite observations to meet the first and last
of the Goal 1 objectives;
¥ CP2, on Interocean exchanges (later limited to
exchanges with the Southern Ocean), was set up
in recognition of the distinct scientific and logistic problems of the Southern Ocean; and
¥ CP3, in which dynamical models would be built
and tested against an intensive set of observations on a basin scale before applying the
models to the global data set.
Week-long workshops were held during 1986
to complete the initial planning of the CPs. The
workshops were well attended (about 50 scientists
from 13 nations at CPs 1 and 2, and from nine
nations at CP3).
The CP1 workshop reached a consensus as to
what should be included in the global programme
of measurements to meet WOCE objectives.
Although they expected changes to details, they
felt the scope of CP1 would remain unchanged
throughout WOCE’s lifetime. This has generally
been proven true.
The CP2 workshop took advantage of earlier
Southern Ocean studies and reviews such as SCOR’s
Working Group 74 report on ‘The General Circulation of the Southern Ocean: Status and Recommendations for Research’. The Workshop focused on:
¥ Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) dynamical balance and heat and mass transport;
¥ meridional transports through and out of the
Southern Ocean; and air–sea–ice interaction.
The outcome of the discussions of these processes
became the basis for the initial CP2 implementation plan.
The CP3 workshop was unable to complete
many aspects of the planning. With the exception
of studies of the deep circulation in the Brazil
Basin, it was clear that there were many reasons
for locating most of CP3 in the North Atlantic.
The workshop examined processes in the surface
layer, interior and within the deep circulation
needing consideration and suggested some experiments. However, a problem existed with resources
and with coordination that would last until the
mid-1990s and the advent of the predominantly
US Atlantic Climate Change Program (ACCP)
(Whitburn, 1994).
The scope of the hydrographic programme as
envisaged in CP1 and CP2, with their long
transoceanic meridional and zonal sections and
requirement for tracer observations, was clearly
going to stretch the capabilities of existing research
ships. Typically these ships were limited to cruises
of 4 weeks duration and a scientific party of 20.
The WOCE SSG for some time worked on the idea
of a Research Vessel (RV) WOCE, a dedicated
and internationally managed shipboard operation
to accomplish these major sections. Eventually a
less centralized approach prevailed by exploiting
existing individual nationally managed resources
coordinated by a WOCE Hydrographic Programme Planning Office (WHPO). Even so, major
refits and lengthening of research ships took place
to accommodate the scientific crews of 30 or more
and cruise duration of 6 weeks that the WHP
required. The Indian Ocean component of the
WOCE programme in 1995 came closest to the
RV WOCE concept with the successful use of a
single US funded ship, RV Knorr, and technical
support from a single group for the bulk of the
sections.
WOCE took the integration of observations
started with MODE and POLYMODE into a new
era by drawing on a very wide range of techniques. Their great scope led to some important
decisions, sometimes preceded by heated debate.
This is typified by the decision to use a range of
geochemical tracers, particularly those with timedependent characteristics derived from radioactive
decay or the variability of their source function. It
was based on their expected utility in clarifying the
pathways and circulation rates in the interior of
the ocean. They were expected to extend greatly
the level of understanding beyond that possible
using only the traditional base of temperature,
SECTION 1 THE OCEAN AND CLIMATE
38
was adopted that explored both inverse and direct
models. At the time, in the mid-1980s, eddyresolving models were evolving only at the basin
scale though the NEG was predicting the availability of global eddy-resolving models soon after the
end of the twentieth century. The wish for a
detailed input by modellers into experimental
design, first stated in MODE and reiterated in
NEG’s first report, remained elusive.
With the reports of the working groups available, the SSG identified three major components
(Core Projects – CP) of the programme:
¥ CP1, the Global Description, provided the unified framework for a global set of in-situ and
satellite observations to meet the first and last
of the Goal 1 objectives;
¥ CP2, on Interocean exchanges (later limited to
exchanges with the Southern Ocean), was set up
in recognition of the distinct scientific and logistic problems of the Southern Ocean; and
¥ CP3, in which dynamical models would be built
and tested against an intensive set of observations on a basin scale before applying the
models to the global data set.
Week-long workshops were held during 1986
to complete the initial planning of the CPs. The
workshops were well attended (about 50 scientists
from 13 nations at CPs 1 and 2, and from nine
nations at CP3).
The CP1 workshop reached a consensus as to
what should be included in the global programme
of measurements to meet WOCE objectives.
Although they expected changes to details, they
felt the scope of CP1 would remain unchanged
throughout WOCE’s lifetime. This has generally
been proven true.
The CP2 workshop took advantage of earlier
Southern Ocean studies and reviews such as SCOR’s
Working Group 74 report on ‘The General Circulation of the Southern Ocean: Status and Recommendations for Research’. The Workshop focused on:
¥ Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) dynamical balance and heat and mass transport;
¥ meridional transports through and out of the
Southern Ocean; and air–sea–ice interaction.
The outcome of the discussions of these processes
became the basis for the initial CP2 implementation plan.
The CP3 workshop was unable to complete
many aspects of the planning. With the exception
of studies of the deep circulation in the Brazil
Basin, it was clear that there were many reasons
for locating most of CP3 in the North Atlantic.
The workshop examined processes in the surface
layer, interior and within the deep circulation
needing consideration and suggested some experiments. However, a problem existed with resources
and with coordination that would last until the
mid-1990s and the advent of the predominantly
US Atlantic Climate Change Program (ACCP)
(Whitburn, 1994).
The scope of the hydrographic programme as
envisaged in CP1 and CP2, with their long
transoceanic meridional and zonal sections and
requirement for tracer observations, was clearly
going to stretch the capabilities of existing research
ships. Typically these ships were limited to cruises
of 4 weeks duration and a scientific party of 20.
The WOCE SSG for some time worked on the idea
of a Research Vessel (RV) WOCE, a dedicated
and internationally managed shipboard operation
to accomplish these major sections. Eventually a
less centralized approach prevailed by exploiting
existing individual nationally managed resources
coordinated by a WOCE Hydrographic Programme Planning Office (WHPO). Even so, major
refits and lengthening of research ships took place
to accommodate the scientific crews of 30 or more
and cruise duration of 6 weeks that the WHP
required. The Indian Ocean component of the
WOCE programme in 1995 came closest to the
RV WOCE concept with the successful use of a
single US funded ship, RV Knorr, and technical
support from a single group for the bulk of the
sections.
WOCE took the integration of observations
started with MODE and POLYMODE into a new
era by drawing on a very wide range of techniques. Their great scope led to some important
decisions, sometimes preceded by heated debate.
This is typified by the decision to use a range of
geochemical tracers, particularly those with timedependent characteristics derived from radioactive
decay or the variability of their source function. It
was based on their expected utility in clarifying the
pathways and circulation rates in the interior of
the ocean. They were expected to extend greatly
the level of understanding beyond that possible
using only the traditional base of temperature,
SECTION 1 THE OCEAN AND CLIMATE
38