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学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，关键取决于中尺度物理/生物相互作用的表征。研究人员建议评估由局地和远程强迫驱动的中尺度物理动力学与GLOBEC东北太平洋地区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达的中尺度物理强迫和海洋动力学变异性对生态系统动力学变异性的贡献；(2)通过使用耦合模式和其他GLOBEC数据集，将这种中尺度理解扩展到更大的空间领域和更长的时间尺度。研究人员将研究强迫变异性对生态系统的影响，并开发北加州洋流物理和生物特性的中尺度变异性指数。这些指数将与系统输入能量的变化有关，例如风强迫的年际变化。在GLOBEC综合工作中，这项工作将有助于了解当地物理和生物中尺度活动与大空间尺度、长时间尺度的区域强迫之间的因果关系，并将为开发估算中尺度生态系统对强迫反应的预测能力奠定基础。研究结果将通过多作者论文、链接网站和LiveAccess服务器进行传播。调查人员还建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.