Earth Sciences: Oceanography: Projects: Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT)

Description: The programme undertakes biological, chemical and physical oceanographic research during the annual return passage of the RRS James Clark Ross from the UK to the Falkland Islands in September and from the Falklands to the UK in May. During the first phase of the project (1995 to 1999), twelve research cruises took place, providing a coherent set of repeated measurements over ocean basin scales. A second phase of the project is now underway, and will include six cruises between 2002 and 2005. These will sample further into the centre of the North and South Atlantic Ocean and along the north-west coast of Africa.