Collaborative Research: Polynyas in Coastal Antarctica (PICA): Linking Physical Dynamics to Biological Variability

合作研究：南极洲沿海冰间湖 (PICA)：将物理动力学与生物变异性联系起来

• 批准号: 1643735
• 负责人: Yun Li
• 金额: $ 19.1万
• 依托单位: University of South Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-09-01 至 2020-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1643735&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Polynyas; Coastal; Antarctica

During winter, sea-ice coverage along the Antarctic coast is punctuated by numerous polynyas--isolated openings of tens to hundreds of kilometer wide. These coastal polynyas are hotspots of sea ice production and the primary source regions of the bottom water in the global ocean. They also host high levels of biological activities and are the feeding grounds of Emperor penguins and marine mammals. The polynyas are a key component of the Antarctic coastal system and crucial for the survival of penguins and many other species. These features also differ dramatically from each other in timing of formation, duration, phytoplankton growth season, and overall biological productivity. Yet, the underlying reasons for differences among them are largely unknown. This project studies the fundamental biophysical processes at a variety of polynyas, examines the connection between the physical environment and the phytoplankton and penguin ecology, and investigates the mechanisms behind polynya variability. The results of this interdisciplinary study will provide a context for interpretation of field measurements in Antarctic coastal polynyas, set a baseline for future polynya studies, and examine how polynya ecosystems may respond to local and large-scale environmental changes. The project will include educational and outreach activities that convey scientific messages to a broad audience. It aims to increase public awareness of the interconnection between large-scale environmental change and Antarctic coastal systems.The main objectives of this study are to form a comprehensive understanding of the temporal and spatial variability of Antarctic coastal polynyas and the physical controls of polynya ecosystems. The project takes an interdisciplinary approach and seeks to establish a modeling system centered on the Regional Ocean Modeling System. This system links the ice and ocean conditions to the plankton ecology and penguin population. Applications of the modeling system in representative polynyas, in conjunction with analysis of existing observations, will determine the biophysical influences of individual forcing factors. In particular, this study will test a set of hypothesized effects of winds, offshore water intrusion, ice-shelf melting, sea-ice formation, glacier tongues, and ocean stratification on the timing of polynya phytoplankton bloom and the overall polynya biological productivity. The project will also examine how changing polynya state affects penguin breeding success, adult survival, and population growth. The team will conduct idealized sensitivity analysis to explore implications of forcing variability, including local and large-scale environmental change, on Antarctic coastal ecosystems.

冬季，南极沿岸的海冰覆盖着无数的冰间湖——数十至数百公里宽的孤立开口。这些沿海冰间湖是海冰产生的热点，也是全球海洋底层水的主要来源地区。它们还具有高水平的生物活动，是帝企鹅和海洋哺乳动物的觅食地。冰间湖是南极海岸系统的重要组成部分，对企鹅和许多其他物种的生存至关重要。这些特征在形成时间、持续时间、浮游植物生长季节和总体生物生产力方面也存在显着差异。然而，它们之间差异的根本原因在很大程度上尚不清楚。 该项目研究各种冰间湖的基本生物物理过程，检查物理环境与浮游植物和企鹅生态之间的联系，并研究冰间湖变异背后的机制。这项跨学科研究的结果将为解释南极沿海冰间湖的实地测量提供背景，为未来的冰间湖研究设定基线，并研究冰间湖生态系统如何应对当地和大规模的环境变化。该项目将包括向广大受众传达科学信息的教育和外展活动。它旨在提高公众对大规模环境变化与南极沿海系统之间相互联系的认识。本研究的主要目标是对南极沿海冰间湖的时空变化以及冰间湖生态系统的物理控制形成全面的了解。该项目采用跨学科方法，力求建立以区域海洋模拟系统为中心的模拟系统。 该系统将冰和海洋条件与浮游生物生态和企鹅种群联系起来。建模系统在代表性冰间湖中的应用，结合现有观测的分析，将确定各个强迫因素的生物物理影响。特别是，这项研究将测试一系列假设的风、近海海水入侵、冰架融化、海冰形成、冰川舌和海洋分层对冰间湖浮游植物繁殖时间和整体冰间生物生产力的影响。该项目还将研究冰间湖状态的变化如何影响企鹅繁殖成功、成年生存和种群增长。该团队将进行理想化的敏感性分析，以探索强迫变异（包括局部和大规模环境变化）对南极沿海生态系统的影响。