Towards a Model of the Biogeochemistry of Large-Scale River Basins: An Application to the Pacific Rim

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Rivers play a critical role in global systems because they transfer materials regionally and from land to the sea. The investigators developed a model for the Amazon river that describes and predicts river interactions with terrestrial and coastal systems. The model incorporates both large- and small-scale information in a unified database (e.g. satellite imaging to biochemical parameters). In the present research, the investigators will extend the model to the rivers of the Pacific rim. Rivers of the Pacific rim were chosen because of their complex, but under appreciated role in global biogeochemical cycles. The central question is: How do these poorly- understood rivers obtain, modify and transport their biogeochemical composition? To address the question, the PIs will 1) assemble an international team of investigators, 2) collect, analyze and disseminate samples and information for several Pacific rim rivers, and 3) develop a heuristic model of the operation and importance of these rivers.