IEDA
Project Information
Small Grants for Exploratory Research - Oceanographic Research in the Amundsen and Ross Seas:
Description/Abstract
The research will examine the relative importance of the physical and chemical controls on phytoplankton dynamics and carbon flux in continental margin regions of the Southern Ocean, and elucidate mechanisms by which plankton populations and carbon export might be altered by climate change. We specifically will address (1) how the phytoplankton on the continental margins of the southern Ocean respond to spatial and temporal changes in temperature, light, iron supply, and carbon dioxide levels, (2) how these factors initiate changes in phytoplankton assemblage structure, and (3) how carbon export and the efficiency of the biological pump are impacted by the biomass and composition of the phytoplankton. Two regions of study (the Amundsen and Ross Seas) will be investigated, one well studied (Ross Sea) and one poorly described (Amundsen Sea). It is hypothesized that each region will have markedly different physical forcing, giving rise to distinct chemical conditions and therefore biological responses. As such, the comparison of the two may give us insights into the mechanisms of how Antarctic continental margins will respond under changing environmental conditions. Broader impacts include participation by an international graduate student from Brazil, outreach via seminars to the general public, collaboration with the teachers-in-residence on the cruise, development of a cruise web site and interactive email exchanges with local middle school students while at sea
Personnel
Person Role
Smith, Walker Investigator
Funding
Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems Award # 0741380
AMD - DIF Record(s)
Data Management Plan
None in the Database
Product Level:
1 (processed data)
Datasets
Repository Title (link) Format(s) Status
USAP-DC Small Grants for Exploratory Research - Oceanographic Research in the Amundsen and Ross Seas None exist
Publications
  1. Mattson, E., Karlsson, A., Smith,, W. O., & Abrahamsson, K. (2012). The relationship between biophysical variables and halocarbon distributions in the waters of the Amundsen and Ross Seas, Antarctica. Marine Chemistry, 140-141, 1–9. (doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2012.07.002)
Platforms and Instruments

This project has been viewed 15 times since May 2019 (based on unique date-IP combinations)