Time Series Particle Flux Measurements in the Sargasso Sea

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9711703 Conte Understanding of present-day ocean/climate interactions based largely upon time-series data collected as part of long- term research efforts. The contributions of long-term studies to our knowledge of how the ocean works are numerous and far- reaching. Yet, such studies are exceedingly rare-especially those with a biogeochemical focus. The OFP time-series is now approaching its 20th year. It is one of the very few oceanographic records spanning more than a decade and, by far, the longest time-series of its kind. The OFP time-series has provided an unparalleled record of secular changes in material fluxes to the deep ocean, and direct evidence of the close linkages between particle fluxes and upper ocean processes. The OFP record remains on e of the main pieces of evidence for temporal variability in ecosystem functioning and in the efficiency of the "biological pump". The OFP time-series is now becoming long enough to begin to identify significant long-term trends in both the magnitude and composition of the material flux which appear to be directly linked to variation in the North Atlantic climate system. The project continues to share its resources- in the form of sample material, data, ancillary shiptime, and use of the mooring platform- with a large number of researchers to make possible a diverse range of detailed, generally process-oriented investigations which have greatly expanded the scientific results of the program. Synthesis of these datasets will lead to major and fundamental advances in identifying the upper ocean controls on the quantity and composition of material flux to the seafloor. The findings will be of paramount importance for understanding and predicting the ocean's response to future, possibly anthropogenically induced, climatic change and for development of global carbon flux models.