Collaborative: US-GLOBEC NEP Phase IIIa-CCS: Coupled physical/biological dynamics in the Northern California Current System: A synthesis of seasonal and interannual mesoscale varia

生态对中尺度物理动力的响应并不局限于中尺度空间域。因此，在更大的空间尺度和更长的时间尺度上理解与生态动力学的联系，关键取决于对中尺度物理/生物相互作用的描述。研究人员建议评估由本地和远程强迫驱动的中尺度物理动力学与整个GLOBEC东北太平洋区域观测到的浮游植物和浮游动物丰度和空间格局的变异性之间的联系。两个主要目标是：(1)确定中尺度物理强迫和海洋动力学的可变性对生态系统动力学的可变性的贡献，如浮游植物和浮游动物丰度、空间格局、大小分布和生产指数所表示的；(2)通过使用耦合模式和全球海洋观测系统的其他数据集，在更大的空间领域和更长的时间尺度上推广这一中尺度认识。研究人员将研究强迫对生态系统的可变性的后果，并开发加州北部洋流物理和生物特性的中尺度可变性指数。这些指数将与输入系统的能量变化有关，例如风力的年际变化。在GLOBEC的综合工作中，这项工作将有助于对当地物理和生物中尺度活动与大空间尺度、长时间尺度区域强迫之间的因果关系的理解，并将为发展估计中尺度生态系统对强迫的反应的预测能力奠定基础。结果将通过多篇论文、链接网站和LiveAccess服务器传播。调查人员还提议与俄勒冈州成人教育办公室合作。

Ecological responses to mesoscale physical dynamics are not limited to a mesoscale spatial domain. Consequently, an understanding of the linkage to ecological dynamics over larger spatial scales and longer time scales is critically dependent upon a characterization of the mesoscale physical/biological interactions. The investigators propose to evaluate the link between mesoscale physical dynamics, as driven by local and remote forcing, and the variability in phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance and spatial pattern observed across the GLOBEC Northeast Pacific region. The two primary objectives are to (1) determine the contribution of variability in mesoscale physical forcing and ocean dynamics to the variability in ecosystem dynamics, as expressed by phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance, spatial pattern, size distribution and indices of production and (2) extend this mesoscale understanding across a larger spatial domain and across longer time scales through the use of coupled models and other GLOBEC datasets. The investigators will examine the consequences of variability in forcing on the ecosystem and develop indices of mesoscale variability in both the physical and biological properties of the northern California Current. The indices will be related to changes in energy input into the system, e.g. interannual changes in wind forcing. Within the GLOBEC synthesis effort, this work will contribute to a causal understanding of the link between local physical and biological mesoscale activity to large spatial-scale, long time-scale regional forcing, and will establish a basis for developing a predictive capability for estimating mesoscale ecosystem response to forcing. The results will be disseminated through multi-authored papers, linked websites, and through LiveAccess servers. The investigators also propose to collaborate with the Oregon Office of Adult Education.