MORSea – Marine Observatory in the Ross Sea

MORSea (Marine Observatory in the Ross Sea) is a project funded by the P.N.R.A. (National Research Program in Antarctica).
Its primary goal is to maintain and strengthen the existing permanent marine observatory, originally established in 2010.
Mooring activities in the Ross Sea have been conducted continuously since 1995, making the data collected by the Italian moorings the longest oceanographic time series in the region.
These observations are part of the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) and the Italian Long-Term Ecological Research Network (LTER-Italy).

Currently, MORSea operates five moorings (see map below) and supports various ship-of-opportunity activities, including: XBT (Expendable Bathythermograph) deployments; surface temperature and salinity measurements via thermosalinograph; float and drifter launches. These activities provide essential information on the dynamics, temperature field, and vertical structure of the Southern Ocean.

Scientific Goals
The primary goal of MORSea is to continue and expand multi-decadal physical and biogeochemical observations in key areas of the Ross Sea. The Ross Sea plays a critical role in Earth’s climate system. Roughly 25% of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)—a vital component of global ocean circulation—originates from Dense Shelf Water (DSW) formed on the continental shelf of the Ross Sea.
Variations in AABW properties and formation rates impact: global ocean stratification; sea level; ocean heat content and the carbon cycle. Moreover, the Ross Sea is one of the most biologically productive regions of the Southern Ocean. Understanding long-term changes in DSW properties and the driving mechanisms is essential for evaluating AABW variability and, in turn, potential shifts in the Global Overturning Circulation and its influence on the global climate.

Recent research has highlighted far-reaching transformations in the Ross Sea across multiple time and spatial scales. These changes are evident in: oceanographic parameters; sea ice coverage and biogeochemical processes.
MORSea’s continued efforts are crucial for documenting and understanding these evolving patterns in one of the most climate-sensitive regions on Earth.