CIS: Central Irminger Sea
Multidisciplinary mooring, located in the Central Irminger Sea, Subpolar North Atlantic and part of the FP7 NACLIM project.
The site is located in the centre of the Irminger Gyre, characterized by particular deep winter mixed layer depth. The mixed layer deepening is promoted through the combination of the cyclonic circulation of the Irminger gyre and strong surface buoyancy forcing in winter.
Focus of the interdisciplinary research is on the biogeochemical cycling in a potential deep water formtion area. The physical background field (Temperature, Salinity, Currents) of the upper 1500m is surveyed with a number of sensors. Moreover, biogeochemical sensors (O2, Chl-a, zooplankton) is measured in mixed layer.
The site area is shared with the LOCO mooring established by the NIOZ in 2002. The sampling and logistics of the moorings is coordinated with the NACLIM project.
In Septmber 2014 the CIS observatory was moved little south and the original position is now occupied by the 4 mooring construction as part of the US OOI initiative. With this configuration one observatory (OOI) is located at the center of the gyre, while CIS and LOCO are where typically the strongest buoyancy focring is found (related to the Greenland Tip Jet).

Infrastructure Location
CIS
59.7
-39.7
Study Area
Location |
Central Irminger Sea |
Distance from Land |
200 km |
Max Depth |
3000 m |
Oceanographic features of area |
Cyclonic circulation, strong buoyancy forcing, small scale forcing (Greenland Tip Jet), under the influence of the North Atlantic spring bloom. |
Relevant publications isi journals |
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Relevant publications proceedings published in the context of conference |
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Status / Maintenance
System Status |
Operational |
Planned Frequency |
24 month(s) |
Platform Required |
Deep Sea Research Vessel |
People Involved |
4 |
Duration of Operations |
3 day(s) |
Cleaning |
Yes |
Replacments |
Yes |
Download Data |
Yes |
Data Information
TNA
Avaliable for TNA |
No |
Prefered time period for TNA |
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TNA Support offered |
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Services Available |
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Potential Additional Uses |
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Data Ports |
- |
Availability of External Power |
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Instrument installation methodology |
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Data History |
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Instrument installation methodology |
- |
Observatory maintenance estimated or planned schedules |
July 2014 (Maria S. Merian cruise MSM 40, PI: Johannes Karstensen, GEOMAR )
Summer 2016 |
Data policy and access |
Real time data is avaialble from Coriolis website
QC data on request from PI |
Additional comments |
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Modality of access |
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Sensors
Deployed |
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Planned |
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Instrument/Sensor Type |
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Parameter(s) |
Air Temperature, COND, CTD, Currents, DOXY |
Platform |
Buoy |
Manufacturer |
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Instrument/Sensor documentation (URL) |
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Sensor Type / Model |
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Power Supply |
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Approximate Depth / Height |
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Sampling interval |
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Calibration Samples Available |
Yes |
Frequency of Calibration Samples |
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Intercalibration Available |
Yes |
Intercalibration Platform |
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Intercalibration Frequency |
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Problems |
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Solution Adopted |
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Datasheet URL |
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Comments |
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