Observing Deep Convection in the Labrador Sea during Winter 1994/95

Abstract

A 12-month mooring record (May 1994-June 1995), together with accompanying PALACE float data, is used to describe an annual cycle of deep convection and restratification in the Labrador Sea. The mooring is located at 56.75N, 52.5W, near the former site of Ocean Weather Station Bravo, in water of 3500 m depth. This is a pilot experiment for climate monitoring, and also for studies of deep-convection dynamics. Mooring measurements include temperature (T), salinity (S), horizontal and vertical velocity, and acoustic measurement of surface winds. The floats made weekly temperature-salinity profiles between their drift level (near 1500 m) and the surface.