Triangle program: An integrated research plan on ocean climate studies at JAMSTEC
Masataka Hishida
Japan Marine Science and Technology Center
2-15 Natsushima Yokosuka 237 Japan
Abstract
We at JAMSTEC are carrying out the following oceanographic studies and developing the new ocean observation technologies. Our ocean observation and research efforts are being done to get a better understanding of the mechanism and the variability of basin scale heat transports. It is expected that those results should give scientific grounds to take some measures against global environmental changes. Presently we are executing the following studies in the tropical Pacific Ocean, and the Northern North Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. The variabilities of the warm pool in the western tropical Pacific Ocean influence on the global climate associate with ENSO. We are conducting observational cruises in this warm pool area as a project of 'Tropical Ocean Climate Study (TOCS). This project has been carried out with a collaboration with BPPT/Indonesia as joint cruises and PMEL, NOAA/USA for TAO buoy maintenance. In collaboration with SIO/USA, we have been practicing a numerical simulation with the OPYC model developed by Max-Plank Institute for Meteorology. It is known that the Subarctic Northern Pacific Ocean is a major source of the North Pacific Intermediate Water in the Pacific and may play an important role in the decadal scale global climate. We are conducting the observational study for determining the heat exchange between the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea. In the Arctic Ocean, we are also conducting oceanographic, glaciological, meteorological and biogeochemical observations in the mid-Arctic Ocean with fully automated ice-ocean environmental buoys in collaboration with WHOI/USA. We are also conducting observational study in the Chukuchi Sea with the Univ. of Alaska, the Univ. of Washington/USA and Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute/Russia, and others. In order to make a break through in any scientific field, technological developments are indispensable. We have been developing an acoustic ocean Tomography system for real time observation in the long range of 1000 km. We have also been developing an Ocean LIDAR system to measure the phytoplankton. These technologies should become global ocean observational tools in conjunction with the development of satellite remote sensing. JAMSTEC will launch a new R/V "Mirai" in October 1997 and start the deployment of our own surface moored buoys collaborating with TAO project. To enhance and integrate the above research activities, we will start the Triangle program which is focused on (1) ENSO in the tropical Pacific Ocean, (2) Asian Monsoon in the Indian Ocean and (3) decadal scale ocean variabilities in the Northern North Pacific and the Arctic Ocean (see attached figure). The Triangle program is named after the three themes and those geographical distribution. We think that these studies can not be performed without
