Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heatflux Array (MOCHA)
Goal: "To set in place a system for continuous observation of the meridional heat transport in the subtropical Atlantic, with which to document its variability and its relationship to oberved climate fluctuations, and to assess climate model predictions"
Principal Investigators: Bill Johns, Molly Baringer (NOAA-AOML), and Lisa Beal
Mooring Operations
MOCHA moorings were originally deployed in March 2004 on a joint cruise aboard Royal Research Ship Discovery with the UK RAPID science team headed by Stuart Cunningham and Harry Bryden of the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, and Jochem Marotzke of the Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie. Bill Johns headed the Miami science team and our mooring operations were carried out by the RSMAS OTECH Group: Robert Jones and Mark Graham. One year later in May 2005, aboard Research Vessel Knorr, the MOCHA moorings were "turned around" during another joint cruise with the RAPID team. A turn around operation is when the moorings are recovered, data downloaded, any necessary repairs or replacements made, batteries replaced, and finally the moorings redeployed. Typically these operations are completed in a single day for each mooring - which means a long and arduous day for the mooring team.

RECOVERY (ADCP and various)
   
    


DEPLOYMENT (bottom lander with pressure gauge)
 
   


INDUCTIVE MOORING
         
photographs courtesy of Lisa Beal.