Collaborative Research: Transport Timescales, Pathways, and Carbon Uptake in the North Atlantic Ocean

该项目将应用一个新的框架来描述地球物理储层中的平流-扩散输送到次极环流中的拉布拉多海水（LSW）输送。它将综合瞬态示踪剂、水文和地下数据。我们需要估计：(i)北大西洋亚极区LSW的时间平均传输时间尺度和路径，重点关注平流、地转流混合和再循环的作用；（ii）控制LSW异常传播的过程；（iii）北大西洋亚极区人为碳的吸收，以及地转流、混合和再循环平流在控制碳固存中的重要性。将使用一系列模拟1950-2000年非漩涡分辨和漩涡分辨北大西洋环流的数值模式来检验这些方法和估计数据分析的置信水平。更广泛的影响将是更好地了解海洋环流和碳吸收，这是地球气候系统的一个关键部分，具有重要的社会意义。结果将传播给广泛的受众，并在PI的各级教学中突出该项目。两名研究生和一名博士后将协助该项目，并接受物理海洋学和气候动力学方面的高级培训。

This project will apply a new framework to describe advective-diffusive transport in geophysical reservoirs to Labrador Sea Water (LSW) transport in the subpolar gyre. It will synthesize data from transient tracers, hydrography and subsurface ?oats to estimate: (i) the time-averaged transport timescales and pathways for LSW in the subpolar North Atlantic with a focus on the roles of advection by the geostrophic flow, mixing, and recirculation, (ii) the processes controlling propagation of LSW anomalies, and, (iii) the uptake of anthropogenic carbon in the subpolar North Atlantic, and the importance of advection by the geostrophic flow, mixing, and recirculation in controlling carbon sequestration. A range of numerical models that simulate 1950-2000 North Atlantic circulation at non-eddy-resolving and eddy-resolving resolutions will be used to test the methods and estimate confidence levels for the data analyses. The broader impacts will be better understanding of ocean circulation and carbon uptake, a critical part of Earth's climate system with great societal importance. The results will be disseminated to a wide audience and feature the project in all levels of the PI's teaching. Two graduate students and a post doc will assist the project and receive advanced training in physical oceanography and climate dynamics.