Abstract:
On April 19-20, 1993 a two-day workshop was held at the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution on "The North Atlantic Current (NAC) System". The
workshop, which was sponsored by NSF/NOAA/ONR reflected a growing sense of
excitement and interest in the oceanographic community in the NAC system and its role
in the large scale circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean and Climate of the adjoining
landmasses.
The presence of the North Atlantic Current with its warm waters at such high
latitudes, and its role in both the wind-driven and thermohaline circulations makes it
unique amongst the Western Boundary Currents of the oceans. Being on the one hand
part of the wind-driven circulation and on the other hand the upper branch of the "Global
Conveyor Belt", the North Atlantic current is indeed an enigma, suggesting fundamental
issues about the nature of the coupling between the two 'roles' of the current that will
need to be addressed. But it was also clear from the workshop discussions that there
remain considerable uncertainty about the basic structure of the NAC. A high level of
interest in these questions was evident at the workshop. The lectures, presentations, and
the discussion sessions where observational and modelling issues were debated, brought
out many ideas for the development and focus of future research of the NAC and
surrounding waters.
This report is intended to provide not only a synopsis of the lectures, papers, and
ideas that were discussed, but also a scientific statement from the workshop reflecting a
growing consensus for initiating a coordinated research effort in the region.
Description:
Conference name: North Atlantic Current (NAC) System; 19-20 April 1993, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
