GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Actions should aim at developing innovative approaches to address only one of the following options:

• Regional & global components of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC)

Actions should further the research on how and why the AMOC has changed over time, and how it will evolve in the future. Actions should endeavour to understand the entire system of the AMOC, as well as its links with the world ocean circulation system, in particular with the polar oceans. Actions should enable the sustained and sustainable observation of the AMOC by improving, developing and/or deploying existing and novel methods and technologies to observe the AMOC and its functions in the Earth system, and may include the development of advanced methods and digital technologies such as machine learning algorithms and multiple observational constraints. Action should address observational gaps of existing AMOC observing systems, focusing on formation regions, ocean boundaries and topographic constriction points. 

• Improving understanding and observation of Antarctic key processes and the Southern Ocean circulation

Actions should endeavour to reduce the deep uncertainty regarding the Antarctic contribution to global mean sea level rise towards the end of this century. Action should further the science and understanding of the dynamics of the Antarctic ice sheet and its climatic triggers, which constitute the major source of uncertainty about sea level rise. Actions should endeavour to understand the sensitivity of the low-latitudinal oceans to freshwater fluxes in order to advance the comprehension of the dynamics and functioning of the southern sources of deep waters, the Antarctic bottom water (AABW) circulation and thus counteract the deficit of scientific knowledge limiting the complete understanding of decadal to millennial time-scale climate change. Actions should focus on the potential importance of feedbacks between the northern and southern sources of deep waters.

For both options, international cooperation is strongly encouraged, with a strong linkage with the ongoing activities under the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, with participation from bordering countries and countries – beyond the EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe – that took part in the Arctic Science Ministerial.