Collaborative Proposal: Mineral Ballast and Organic Matter Compositions as Determinants of Particle Settling Velocities and Fluxes in the Sea (MedFlux)

摘要在该基金的支持下，纽约州立大学石溪分校、斯基达韦海洋研究所和华盛顿大学的MedFlux研究小组的成员将完成他们关于从海洋真光层落下的生物颗粒命运的开创性研究的数据分析和信息合成。MedFlux的中心重点是在四年前开始与NSF的支持，是发展一个更好的机械理解的“压舱物假说，“其中指出，颗粒有机碳（POC）流入深海和沉积物是成正比的（3-7%的有机碳重量）与生物体产生的“压载矿物”通量之间的关系（蛋白石或碳酸盐矿物）或通过物理过程引入海洋表层。早期的工作（Armstrong等人，2002年; Klaas Archer，2002年）表明，通过压载通量可以很好地预测深度有机碳通量（85-90%解释方差）;因此，引入海洋表面的矿物压载的类型和数量可能是海洋吸收和储存碳能力的关键决定因素和预测因素。为了推进这些研究，研究小组还开发了专门的采样设备和协议，用于测量通量的两个基本组成部分：颗粒浓度C（z）和深度z处的平均下沉速度w（z）。有了这笔赠款的资助，该小组将能够全面评估该项目的科学成果以及新的颗粒取样技术的性能。这项研究对全球碳循环和环境变化问题具有广泛的影响。例如，随着海洋中人为二氧化碳的持续溶解，pH值降低，碳酸盐矿物可能优先溶解，影响压载和海洋中POC的平均矿化深度。这种情况将需要一个机制为基础的理解POC压载在海洋中。此外，MedFlux的工作将继续促进三所美国大学和摩纳哥、法国、西班牙和德国同事之间的国际合作。该项目还为研究生提供支助和培训。

ABSTRACTWith support from this grant, the members of the MedFlux research team at SUNY-Stony Brook, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, and University of Washington will complete data analysis and informational synthesis of their pioneering study of the fate of biogenic particles falling from the oceanic euphotic zone. The central focus of MedFlux, which began with NSF support four years ago, is to develop a better mechanistic understanding of the "ballast hypothesis," which states that Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) fluxes to the deep ocean and sediments are directly proportional (3-7% OC by weight) to fluxes of "ballast minerals" produced by organisms (opal or carbonate minerals) or introduced into the surface ocean by physical processes. Earlier work (Armstrong et al 2002; Klaas & Archer 2002) showed that the flux of organic carbon at depth can be predicted extremely well (85-90% explained variance) by ballast flux; the types and amounts of mineral ballast introduced to the surface ocean may therefore be critical determinants and predictors of the ocean's ability to take up and store carbon. To advance these studies, the research team also developed specialized sampling devices and protocols for measuring the two fundamental components of flux: particle concentration C(z) and average sinking velocity w ( z) at depth z. With funding under this grant, the team will be able to evaluate fully both the scientific output of the project as well as the performance of the new particulate sampling technology. This research has a number of broader impacts for global carbon cycle and environmental change issues. For example, as pH decreases in response to the continued dissolution of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the ocean, carbonate minerals may dissolve preferentially, affecting both ballasting and the average remineralization depth of POC in the ocean. This situation would necessitate a mechanism-based understanding of POC ballasting in the ocean. Additionally, MedFlux work will continue to foster international collaborations among three U.S. universities and colleagues in Monaco, France, Spain, and Germany. The project also provides for the support and training of graduate students.