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Free-drifting Icebergs as Proliferating Dispersion Sites of Iron Enrichment, Organic Carbon Production and Export in the Southern Ocean

Entry ID: NSF-ANT06-36730

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Summary

Abstract: Atmospheric warming has been associated with retreating glaciers, disintegrating ice shelves, and the increasing prevalence of icebergs in the Southern Ocean over the last decade. Our preliminary study of two icebergs in the NW Weddell Sea, an area of high iceberg concentration, showed significant delivery of terrestrial material accompanied by significant enhancement of phytoplankton and ...

Purpose: The objectives of this proposal are to investigate the controls on the large-scale distribution and production of the two major bloom-forming phytoplankton taxa in the Southern Ocean, diatoms and Phaeocystis Antarctica. These two groups, through their involvement in the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, sulfur and nutrient elements, may have played important roles in the climate variations of the ... late Quaternary, and they also may be key players in future environmental change. A current paradigm is that irradiance and iron availability drive phytoplankton dynamics in the Southern Ocean. Recent work, however, suggests that carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations may also be important in structuring algal assemblages, due to species-specific differences in the physiology. This proposal examines the interactive effects of iron, light and CO2 on the physiology, ecology and relative dominance of Phaeocystis and diatoms in the Southern Ocean. The Ross Sea is an ideal system in which to investigate the environmental factors that regulate the distribution and production of these two algal groups, since it is characterized by seasonal blooms of both P. Antarctica and diatoms that are typically separated in both space and time. This study will take the form of an interdisciplinary investigation that includes a field survey and statistical analysis of algal assemblage composition, iron, mixed layer depth, and CO2 levels in the southern Ross Sea, coupled with shipboard experiments to examine the response of diatom and P. Antarctica assemblages to high and low levels of iron, light and CO2 during spring and summer. This project will provide information on some of the major factors controlling the production and distribution of the two major bloom forming phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean and the related biogeochemical cycling of carbon, sulfur and nutrient elements. The results may ultimately advance the ability to predict how the Southern Ocean will be affected by and possibly modulate future climate change. This project will also make significant educational contributions at several levels, including the planned research involvement of graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral associates, a student teacher, and community outreach and educational activities. A number of activities are planned to interface the project with K-12 education. Presentations will be made at local schools to discuss the research and events of the research cruise. During the cruise there will be daily interactive email contact with elementary classrooms. Established websites will be used to allow students to learn about the ongoing research, and to allow researchers to communicate with students through text and downloaded images.

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP)
Original data submitted.

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION

Description: NSF Award Abstract #0636730

Geographic Coverage

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Spatial coordinates

N: -52.0

S: -65.0

E: -40.0

W: -55.0

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 2007-09-01

Stop Date: 2010-08-31

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA

GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

VERTICAL LOCATION > SEA SURFACE

OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN > WEDDELL SEA

Science Keywords

OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY

OCEANS > SEA ICE > ICEBERGS

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PLANTS

ISO Topic Category

GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

Project

NSF/OPP > Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

Data Coordination Center, United States Antarctic Program

Data Center URL: http://www.usap-data.org/
Dataset ID: NSF-ANT06-36730

Data Center Personnel
Name: ROBERT A. ARKO Email: info at usap-data.org Contact Address: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 61 Route 9W City: Palisades Province or State: NY Postal Code: 10964 Country: USA

Personnel

MARIA VERNET

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Email: mvernet at ucsd.edu

Contact Address:

University of California San Diego

City: La Jolla

Province or State: CA

Postal Code: 92093

Country: US

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2010-11-22

Last DIF Revision Date: 2010-11-23

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