ASPIRE: Amundsen Sea Polynya International Research Expedition

ASPIRE是美国国家科学基金会资助的一个项目，将在2010年澳大利亚夏季期间研究阿蒙森海的生态。ASPIRE包括一个由微量金属和碳化学家、浮游植物生理学家、微生物和浮游动物生态学家以及物理海洋学家组成的国际团队，他们将调查为什么以及如何阿蒙森海波利尼亚比其他波利尼亚更具生产力，以及年际变化是否可以为洞察推动碳通量的气候敏感机制提供洞察。该项目将通过1)实验操作来了解不同光照和痕量金属丰度条件下主要浮游植物类群的光驯化，2)营养添加生物测定来确定痕量金属对浮游植物生长的氮限制的重要性，以及3)数值生态模型来了解混合制度、流场和铁源在控制这个异常高产的Polynya系统中浮游植物水华动态和群落组成方面的差异的重要性，从而补充现有的ASPIRE工作。该研究战略将结合卫星遥感、基于现场的实验操作和数值模拟。外展和教育包括参加斯坦福大学科学教师专业发展暑期计划、斯坦福大学地球科学学院高中实习计划，以及为当地科学培训中心(包括Chabot空间和科学中心)制定课程。本科生的参与和培训将包括对研究生和本科生助理的支持。

ASPIRE is an NSF-funded project that will examine the ecology of the Amundsen Sea during the Austral summer of 2010. ASPIRE includes an international team of trace metal and carbon chemists, phytoplankton physiologists, microbial and zooplankton ecologists, and physical oceanographers, that will investigate why and how the Amundsen Sea Polynya is so much more productive than other polynyas and whether interannual variability can provide insight to climate-sensitive mechanisms driving carbon fluxes. This project will compliment the existing ASPIRE effort by using 1) experimental manipulations to understand photoacclimation of the dominant phytoplankton taxa under conditions of varying light and trace metal abundance, 2) nutrient addition bioassays to determine the importance of trace metal versus nitrogen limitation of phytoplankton growth, and 3) a numerical ecosystem model to understand the importance of differences in mixing regime, flow field, and Fe sources in controlling phytoplankton bloom dynamics and community composition in this unusually productive polynya system. The research strategy will integrate satellite remote sensing, field-based experimental manipulations, and numerical modeling. Outreach and education include participation in Stanford's Summer Program for Professional Development for Science Teachers, Stanford's School of Earth Sciences high school internship program, and development of curriculum for local science training centers, including the Chabot Space and Science Center. Undergraduate participation and training will include support for both graduate students and undergraduate assistants.