History
AMT began in 1995, with scientific aims to assess mesoscale to
basin-scale phytoplankton processes, the functional interpretation
of bio-optical signatures and the seasonal, regional and
latitudinal variations in mesozooplankton dynamics. The programme
provided a platform for international scientific collaboration,
including the calibration and validation of SeaWiFS measurements
and products. The measurements of hydrographic and bio-optical
properties, plankton community structure and primary production
completed on the first 12 transects (1995-2000) represent the most
coherent set of repeated biogeochemical obaservations over ocean
basin scales. This unique dataset has lead to several important
discoveries concerning the identification of oceanic provinces,
validation of ocean colour algorithms, distributions of
picoplankton, the identification of new regional sinks of carbon
dioxide and variability in rates of primary production and
respiration.
In 2002, the programme restarted (2002-2006) and broadened, to
address a suite of cross-disciplinary questions concerning ocean
plankton ecology and biogeochemistry and their links to atmospheric
processes. The programme was funded by a NERC Consortium
Grant and its objectives included the determination of
how:
- the structure, functional properties and
trophic status of the major planktonic ecosystems vary in space and
time;
- physical processes control the rates of
nutrient supply to the planktonic ecosystem and;
- atmosphere-ocean exchange and
photodegradation influence the formation and fate of organic
matter.
Through the security of Oceans 2025 funding the AMT programme is
now in its third phase which will extend the series of research
cruises until at least 2012. This began with AMT18 which took
place in October-November 2008. The programme is hosted by
the Plymouth Marine Laboratory in collaboration with the National
Oceanography Centre. It provides an exceptional opportunity for
nationally and internationally driven collaborative research and
provides a platform for excellent multi-disciplinary oceanographic
research. As an in situ observation system, AMT informs on
changes in biodiversity and function of the Atlantic ecosystem
during this period of rapid change to our climate and
biosphere.