Maritimes Region Atlantic Zone Off-Shelf Monitoring Program (AZOMP) Moored Time Series Data

The Atlantic Zone Off-Shelf Monitoring Program (AZOMP) collects and analyzes physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic observations from the continental slope and deep basins of the Northwest Atlantic, with the overarching goal of monitoring variability in ocean climate and plankton affecting ecosystems off Atlantic Canada and climate systems at both regional and global scales.

Annual measurements in the Labrador Sea began in 1990 as a contribution to the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) and have evolved into a multidisciplinary regional monitoring effort and part of the Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP).

AZOMP's sampling scheme off Atlantic Canada and the Labrador Sea involves annual sampling of both the Atlantic Repeat 7-West (AR7W) line, a 880 km-line running across the Labrador Sea from Labrador to Greenland coast and extended Halifax Line, deep-water stations over the Scotian Slope and Rise located at the end of AZMP’s Halifax Line. Opportunistic sampling also may occur at stations in the Strait of Belle Ilse, station 27, Labrador Shelf, and OSNAP West line in support of ancillary research programs and initiatives. In addition XBTs and Argo floats are commonly deployed and vessel-mounted ADCP is used to determine water masses structures at a smaller scale. Deep-water oceanographic moorings are also deployed in the Labrador Sea, mostly in the Hamilton Bank region and OSNAP West Line and on the Scotian Slope. Time series data is used for comparison with the numerical model transport estimates of the Nova Scotia and the Labrador Current.

The data collected are synthesized into annual reports on the physical, chemical and biological changes in Atlantic Canadian waters and the Labrador Sea. One primary focus is on changes in the intensity of winter overturning of surface and intermediate-depth waters resulting in deep water mass formation and is part of the thermohaline circulation that affects the global climate. Convection also transfers atmospheric gases from the surface to intermediate depths, reducing the rate of increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere but increasing the acidity of the ocean.

Access and Use

Licence: Open Government Licence 2.0 (Canada)

Data and Resources

Citation

Keywords

Dataset extent

Metadata Reference Date(s) August 01, 2023 (Publication)
August 01, 2023 (Revision)
Data Reference Date(s) January 01, 1998 (Creation)
Frequency of Update As Needed

Responsible Party 1
Name
Environmental Data Section (MEDS), Marine
Affiliation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Role
Owner
Responsible Party 2
Name
Ringuette, Marc
Affiliation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Email
Marc.Ringuette@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Role
  • Custodian
  • Point of Contact
Responsible Party 3
Name
Data Services, BIO
Affiliation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Email
BIO.Datashop@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Role
Distributor

Field Value
Ocean Variables
  • Subsurface Currents
  • Subsurface Salinity
  • Subsurface Temperature
  • Surface Currents
  • Other
Climate Variables Surface Currents
Scope Dataset
Status On Going
Maintenance Note Generated from https://cioos-siooc.github.io/metadata-entry-form
Spatial Extent [[[-63.7, 37.7], [-48.1, 37.7], [-48.1, 60.6], [-63.7, 60.6], [-63.7, 37.7]]]
North Bounding Latitude 60.6
South Bounding Latitude 37.7
East Bounding Longitude -48.1
West Bounding Longitude -63.7
Temporal Extent
Begin
1998-01-01
Vertical Extent
Min
1.0
Max
5500.0
Default Locale English
Included in Data Catalogue
Included in Data Catalogue 1
Name
CKAN
Description
 
URL
https://catalogue.dev.cioosatlantic.ca