1. SAMOC - May 2010 UK observing plans Drake Passage NOC has a time series of CTD sections Once per year in the season from Nov to Feb, since 1993. This is currently funded until Nov 2011 (2 more cruises) We expect to continue, but funding for Nov 2012 onwards will be reviewed over the next 12 months. Argo The UK will continue to deploy Argo floats into the S. Atlantic, to meet the needs of the global program, but particularly on the lines of trans-basin sections to enable synthesis of time series of upper-ocean sections from float data.

2. SAMOC - May 2010 UK observing plans, continued Brazil Current We have had two unsuccessful proposals from NOC for a Brazil Current mooring array. We intend to pursue this, but will need to build a ‘consortium’ of UK partners for the next proposal, so that there is greater support in the funding panels for such an array. In addition to developing a UK consortium, we would once again hope to have Brazilian partners (and anyone else who is interested in contributing to either fieldwork or modelling) If successful, the earliest that such a proposal could be funded is 2011, with fieldwork starting in 2012 or even 2013. The initial proposal would be a two-year deployment, with mooring refurbishment after 1 year.

3. SAMOC - May 2010 Brazil Current, continued Our inclination is still that the optimum latitude to observe the SAMOC should be at a latitude near 24-28°S, avoiding the Confluence at the west and reducing Agulhas variability at the east. This poses more logistical difficulties, especially at the east where there aren’t ‘local’ research vessels for work at that latitude. Dedicated ship time would be needed, but this should not be the overriding consideration. Diplomatic clearance from Brazil would be needed at the west. Since we would expect to be in partnership with Brazilian collaborators we are hopeful this could be granted.

4. SAMOC - May 2010 Brazil Current, continued We still have concerns that the Confluence makes higher latitudes unsuitable for observing the BC. However, we are open-minded and await with interest to see results from the CPIES. We regret not being at the meeting in order to see further demonstrations that observing near 35°S ‘works’. Good luck with the meeting ! Best wishes, Brian King (sitting in a project review meeting in Plymouth) Elaine McDonagh (proud mother of a baby boy born 2 April)