Abyssal Upwelling Revealing overturning Ocean ciRculAtion: a multi-scale, process-based, integrated approach

The AURORA project aims to unveil the complex dynamics of abyssal circulation in the Mediterranean Sea, a phenomenon still poorly understood and virtually unexplored in this basin. The Ionian Sea has been selected as the study site due to its unique thermohaline and morpho-bathymetric characteristics.

Through an integrated multi-scale observational strategy combining in situ observations, long-endurance gliders, Deep-Argo floats, a deep mooring array, and oceanographic cruises with turbulence and biogeochemical measurements, together with advanced numerical modelling, AURORA pursues three main objectives: to identify deep upwelling zones and their 3D-spatial extent; to characterize the physical mechanisms, particularly small-scale turbulent mixing, governing abyssal upwelling; and to define optimal model configurations and parameterizations for accurately simulating deep-sea ocean dynamics.

The project findings will substantially advance our understanding of Mediterranean thermohaline circulation and its influence on the global ocean through large-scale climate teleconnections.

Fondo Italiano per la Scienza (FIS 3), MUR, Starting Grant