Marine Physics and Ocean Circulation (MPOC)

Research expedition explores the fast Gulf Stream currents

Deployment of a glider during the expedition
  • Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) have deployed ocean robots and moorings to collect key data in the Gulf Stream
  • Processes within the Gulf Stream are thought to play a key role in the uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere

Record breaking 2022 indicative of future UK climate

NOC awarded at Royal Meteorological Society Awards

Dr Svetlana Jevrejeva

The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) today announced the Award Winners for 2022 recognising people and teams who have made exceptional contributions relating to weather, climate and associated disciplines.

United Kingdom Coastal Research Conference

The United Kingdom Coastal Research Conference will showcase and celebrate the coastal research being undertaken within the UK. Principally focused on UK academics, organisations and institutions working on UK coastal science, the conference also welcomes research using overseas case studies that are of relevance to the UK.

New Ascension Island tide gauge providing unique sea-level insight

The Ascension tide gauge
  • The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has installed a new tide gauge located on Ascension Island.
  • The cutting-edge gauge will provide a unique record of sea-level in the remote ocean.

Scientist Spotlight – Explore Shelf Seas with Dr Charlotte Williams

Dr Charlotte Williams

Shelf seas, the shallow seas closest to our continents, account for over 90% of global fisheries productivity, and are relied upon by society for transport and leisure. More recently shelf seas are increasingly being looked at as a renewable energy source to help mitigate climate change.

New space mission to improve knowledge of our environment launching in 2024

Artists impression of HydroGNSS satellite in orbit. Credit: SSTL
  • An ambitious new programme co-led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) will enable reliable and cost-effective measurements of Earth from space.
  • The mission will enable a wealth of open-access environmental data including ocean winds and sea-ice.

New report predicts UK oceans to warm by more than three degrees by 2100

Projected annual mean Sea Surface Temperature change between 2000–2019 and 2079–98.
  • The last 40 years have seen temperatures in UK seas rise by more than a degree.
  • UK seas are predicted to warm by more than three degrees Celsius by 2100.
  • Large increase in marine heat waves can have profound effects on global marine ecosystems.

Scientist Spotlight – Extreme weather science with Dr Kiko Calafat

Dr Kiko Calafat

Extreme sea-level events are an ever-growing threat to coastal communities across our planet due to rising seas. NOC scientists are at the cutting edge of research into why our sea-levels are rising, the likelihood of resulting extreme events and cutting-edge solutions to protect our coastlines.

WireWall: A system to improve coastal hazard forecasts

Overtopping water about to impact the WireWall system during a trial deployment at Crosby.
  • Coastal overtopping can cause flooding and pose a hazard to people, property and infrastructure.
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