The MOMA Project - In Situ Observations and Numerical Simulations of the ACC

• Main Authors: Y. Cotroneo, I. Ansorge, P. Castagno, A. Celeste, P. de Ruggiero, H. A. Dijkstra, P. Falco, G. Fusco, V. Gentile, M. Ghil, I. Iermano, M. Menna, M. Pacciaroni, T. Penduff, S. Pierini, P. M. Poulain, G. Sgubin, E. Zambianchi
• Other Authors: AA.VV., Cotroneo, Y., Ansorge, I., Castagno, P., Celeste, A., de Ruggiero, P., Dijkstra, H. A., Falco, P., Fusco, G., Gentile, V., Ghil, M., Iermano, I., Menna, M., Pacciaroni, M., Penduff, T., Pierini, S., Poulain, P. M., Sgubin, G., Zambianchi, E.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF 2018
• Subjects: Antarctic; Moma; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antartide; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11367/69109; https://www.polar2018.org/

The aim of the MOMA project is to describe the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and its variability, in space and time, south of Africa on the basis of an up-to-date high-resolution observational dataset complemented with model simulations performed for this project. To do this, (i) a high-resolution observational database describing the ACC and its variability in the Southern Ocean sector south of Africa will be obtained through dedicated activities during SANAP oceanographic cruises; (ii) a modelling activity based on sigma-coordinate ocean general circulation model (MACC) and an analysis of a dataset produced by a NEMO ocean/sea-ice global model provided by the LGGE-CNRS partner will be carried out; (iii) experimental and modelling data will be combined to achieve a deep knowledge and understanding of the hydrographic and dynamical features of the region of interest and of the physical mechanisms that govern locally the variability of the ACC fronts and their predictability. The MOMA project is part of the international efforts solicited and sustained by the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) and in the First Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science Horizon Scan concerning the study of the Meridional Overturning Circulation, the ACC variability and their impact on global climate. MOMA is funded by the Italian “Programma Nazionale di Ricerch in Antartide” (PNRA) grant nr. PNRA_16_00196.