Collaborative Research: TRacing the fate of Algal Carbon Export in the Ross Sea (TRACERS)

合作研究：追踪罗斯海藻碳输出的命运 (TRACERS)

• 批准号: 1142044
• 负责人: Robert Dunbar
• 金额: $ 41.59万
• 依托单位: Stanford University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-15 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1142044&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; TRacing; fate; Algal

Intellectual Merit: Sinking particles are a major element of the biological pump and they are commonly assigned to two fates: mineralization in the water column and accumulation at the seafloor. However, there is another fate of export hidden within the vertical decline of carbon, the transformation of sinking organic matter to fine suspended and/or dissolved organic fractions. This process has been suggested but has rarely been observed or quantified. As a result, it is presumed that the solubilized fraction is largely mineralized over short time scales. However, global ocean surveys of dissolved organic carbon are demonstrating a significant water column accumulation of organic matter under high productivity environments. This proposal will investigate the transformation of organic particles from sinking to solubilized phases of the export flux in the Ross Sea. The Ross Sea experiences high export particle production, low dissolved organic carbon export with overturning circulation, and the area has a predictable succession of production and export events. In addition, the basin is shallow ( 000 m) so the products the PIs will target are relatively concentrated. To address the proposed hypothesis, the PIs will use both well-established and novel biochemical and optical measures of export production and its fate. The outcomes of this work will help researchers close the carbon budget in the Ross Sea.Broader impacts: This research will support graduate and undergraduate students and will provide undergraduates and pre-college students with field-based research experience. Scientifically, this research will increase understanding of carbon sinks in the Ross Sea and will help develop new tools for identifying, quantifying, and tracking that carbon. The PIs will interface with K-12 students through daily reports from the field and through educational modules developed by several of the PIs in collaboration with science education specialists and college students. A K-12 educator will be included on the research cruises. Outreach will be through COSEE Florida and the Maritime Center in Norfolk, VA.

智力优点：下沉颗粒是生物泵的主要元素，它们通常有两种命运：水体中的矿化和海底的积累。然而，碳的垂直下降，即下沉的有机物转化为细小的悬浮和/或溶解的有机部分，还隐藏着另一种出口命运。这个过程已经被提出，但很少被观察或量化。因此，推测溶解部分在短时间内大部分矿化。然而，全球海洋溶解有机碳调查表明，在高生产力环境下，有机物在水体中大量积累。该提案将研究罗斯海出口通量中有机颗粒从下沉阶段到溶解阶段的转变。罗斯海经历了高出口颗粒产量、低溶解有机碳出口和翻转环流，并且该地区具有可预测的连续生产和出口事件。此外，该盆地较浅（000米），因此PI的目标产品相对集中。为了解决所提出的假设，PI 将使用成熟且新颖的生化和光学措施来衡量出口生产及其命运。这项工作的成果将帮助研究人员关闭罗斯海的碳预算。更广泛的影响：这项研究将为研究生和本科生提供支持，并为本科生和预科生提供实地研究经验。从科学角度来看，这项研究将增进对罗斯海碳汇的了解，并将有助于开发用于识别、量化和跟踪碳的新工具。 PI 将通过现场每日报告以及几位 PI 与科学教育专家和大学生合作开发的教育模块与 K-12 学生进行交流。一名 K-12 教育工作者将参加研究巡游。外展活动将通过佛罗里达州 COSEE 和弗吉尼亚州诺福克海事中心进行。