Long-term oceanic time-series are an important and widely used community resource. Since October 1988, the Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) program has investigated temporal dynamics in ocean physics and biogeochemistry at a deep-water site in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (Sta. ALOHA, a 10 km radius circle centered at 22 45N, 158W). This one-year extension will continue the high-quality monthly shipboard observations and the moored subsurface measurements of the surface entrainment layer on the NOAA funded air-sea interaction mooring. In the HOT tradition, the data will be made freely and rapidly available. The analysis efforts will continue to include climate variability and mixed layer dynamics.
Broader Impacts: The HOT project provides in situ ground truth for remote sensing, a test bed for adaptive sampling, and platforms for collaborative development of more effective instruments for broader oceanographic use. The HOT project contributes strongly to the recruitment, education and training of a cadre of ocean observers, through direct involvement in this project, participation in cruises, providing data for thesis research, and by incorporating HOT data and results in graduate and undergraduate courses. The investigator in engaged in public outreach through the SOEST Outreach Coordinator, Tara Hicks. Finally the HOT web site provides broad access to the data set and results.
