Collaborative Research: TRacing the fate of Algal Carbon Export in the Ross Sea (TRACERS)

智力价值：下沉的颗粒是生物泵的主要成分，它们通常被归因于两种命运：在水柱中矿化和在海底积累。然而，在碳的垂直下降中隐藏着另一种出口的命运，即将下沉的有机物转化为细微的悬浮和/或溶解的有机组分。这一过程曾被提出，但很少被观察到或量化。因此，据推测，溶解部分在短时间内大部分被矿化。然而，对溶解有机碳的全球海洋调查表明，在高生产力环境下，有机物有显著的水柱积累。这项建议将研究有机颗粒在罗斯海的出口通量中从下沉到溶解的转变。罗斯海经历了高出口颗粒产量，低溶解有机碳出口和颠覆环流，该地区具有可预测的生产和出口事件序列。此外，盆地较浅(000米)，因此PIs的目标产品相对集中。为了解决提出的假设，采购经理人指数将使用成熟的和新的出口生产及其命运的生化和光学指标。这项工作的结果将帮助研究人员减少罗斯海的碳收支。布罗德影响：这项研究将支持研究生和本科生，并将为本科生和预科学生提供实地研究经验。从科学上讲，这项研究将增加对罗斯海碳汇的了解，并将有助于开发识别、量化和跟踪碳的新工具。私人投资机构将通过来自实地的每日报告以及几个个人投资机构与科学教育专家和大学生合作开发的教育模块与K-12学生进行交流。研究游轮上将包括一名K-12教育工作者。外展将通过COSEE佛罗里达州和弗吉尼亚州诺福克的海事中心进行。

Intellectual Merit: Sinking particles are a major element of the biological pump and they are commonly assigned to two fates: mineralization in the water column and accumulation at the seafloor. However, there is another fate of export hidden within the vertical decline of carbon, the transformation of sinking organic matter to fine suspended and/or dissolved organic fractions. This process has been suggested but has rarely been observed or quantified. As a result, it is presumed that the solubilized fraction is largely mineralized over short time scales. However, global ocean surveys of dissolved organic carbon are demonstrating a significant water column accumulation of organic matter under high productivity environments. This proposal will investigate the transformation of organic particles from sinking to solubilized phases of the export flux in the Ross Sea. The Ross Sea experiences high export particle production, low dissolved organic carbon export with overturning circulation, and the area has a predictable succession of production and export events. In addition, the basin is shallow ( 000 m) so the products the PIs will target are relatively concentrated. To address the proposed hypothesis, the PIs will use both well-established and novel biochemical and optical measures of export production and its fate. The outcomes of this work will help researchers close the carbon budget in the Ross Sea.Broader impacts: This research will support graduate and undergraduate students and will provide undergraduates and pre-college students with field-based research experience. Scientifically, this research will increase understanding of carbon sinks in the Ross Sea and will help develop new tools for identifying, quantifying, and tracking that carbon. The PIs will interface with K-12 students through daily reports from the field and through educational modules developed by several of the PIs in collaboration with science education specialists and college students. A K-12 educator will be included on the research cruises. Outreach will be through COSEE Florida and the Maritime Center in Norfolk, VA.