Time Series Particle Flux Measurements in the Sargasso Sea

了解海洋年际和十年时间尺度的变化是广泛的兴趣和日益相关的关注，全球气候和海洋化学的人为扰动，由于温室气体的增加。 长期观测对我们了解海洋如何运作的贡献是众多和深远的。然而，这样的研究是非常罕见的-特别是那些与地球化学和深海重点。自1978年以来，最初由伍兹霍尔海洋学研究所创立和管理、现由百慕大海洋科学研究所管理的海洋通量计划一直在测量马尾藻海深处的粒子通量。到目前为止，34年以上的OFP时间序列是同类中最长的，并且在其对深海的关注方面是独一无二的。海洋渔业方案对“生物泵”的时间变化作出了独特的记录，尽管是经过“编辑”的，“生物泵”一词在这里不严格地适用于从海面到深海的物质转移。OFP为深海季节性和深海通量与上层海洋过程之间的紧密耦合提供了第一个直接证据。它提供了明确的证据，表明通量的生物再加工和中层沃茨悬浮物质的清除的强度。记录记录了年际和较长的变化，深通量和短期波动驱动的中尺度物理变率，气象强迫和生态系统响应之间的相互作用。该奖项将为这一独特的基础海洋学时间序列提供三年的资助。随着记录的延长，我们能够更好地从气候和海洋功能之间的相互作用的角度来看待观测到的通量模式。在百慕大时间序列网站托管补充研究方案：OFP、百慕大大西洋时间序列（BATS）、百慕大试验台系泊（1994-2007年），以及该地点船基、系泊和自主观测能力的新进展，为研究海洋物理、生物和化学以及物质通量之间的相互作用提供了前所未有的机会，以及这些又是如何与大气和气候强迫相联系的。在回收的通量物质中作为化学信号保存下来的关于海洋地球化学的新信息，随着越来越复杂的分析研究工具的应用，不断得到揭示。更广泛的影响：（1）系统、长期的海洋地球化学观测，如海洋渔业方案提供的观测，对于了解海洋的自然变异性和提供一个参考点以解释未来可能的气候变化情景的影响至关重要。(2)以前的NSF评审小组已经认识到OFP是一种宝贵的“社区资源”。OFP将继续与研究人员和学生分享其资源-样本材料，数据，辅助船舶时间和系泊平台的使用-以使社区能够以非常低的成本进行各种调查。(3)OFP样本档案是一个罕见的宝藏。所收集的样品材料将继续对当前和今后的地球化学和气候研究具有宝贵价值。(4)OFP提供的教育经验拓宽了许多年轻学生和早期研究人员在职业生涯关键时刻的研究经验和科学方向。特别有价值的是有机会直接参与在百慕大时间序列地点进行的观测海洋学、时间序列研究以及船舶和系泊综合研究活动

Understanding ocean variability over interannual and decadal time-scales is of widespread interest and increasing relevance given the concerns over anthropogenic perturbations of global climate and ocean chemistry due to increases in greenhouse gases. The contributions of long-term observations to our understanding of how the ocean works are numerous and far-reaching. Yet, such studies are exceedingly rare- especially those with a biogeochemical and deep ocean focus. Since 1978, the Oceanic Flux Program (OFP), originally founded and managed by at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and now managed by the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science (BIOS), has continuously measured particle fluxes in the deep Sargasso Sea. The 34+ year OFP time-series is, by far, the longest of its kind and unique in its focus on the deep ocean. OFP has produced a unique, albeit "edited", record of temporal variability in the "biological pump", a term loosely applied here to material transfer from the surface to the deep ocean. The OFP provided the first direct evidence for seasonality in the deep ocean and the tight coupling between deep fluxes and upper ocean processes. It has provided clear evidence of the intensity of biological reprocessing of flux and scavenging of suspended material in mesopelagic waters. The record has documented interannual and longer variations in deep fluxes and shorter term fluctuations driven by the interactions between mesoscale physical variability, meteorological forcing and ecosystem responses. This award will provide three more years of funding for this unique and fundamental oceanographic time-series. As the record lengthens, we are better able to put into perspective the observed flux patterns in terms of the interplay between climate and ocean functioning. The colocation of complementary research programs at the Bermuda Time-Series Site: the OFP, the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series (BATS), the Bermuda Testbed Mooring (BTM, 1994-2007), as well as new advances in ship-based, moored and autonomous observational capabilities at the site present unparalleled opportunities to study the coupled interactions among ocean physics, biology and chemistry and material fluxes, and how these in turn are linked to atmospheric and climatic forcing. New information about ocean biogeochemistry, preserved as chemical signals in recovered flux materials, continues to be revealed as ever more sophisticated analytical research tools are applied. Broader impacts: (1) Systematic, long-term biogeochemical observations, such as those provided by the OFP, are essential to gain an understanding of natural oceanic variability and to provide a reference point in which to interpret the repercussions of possible future climate change scenarios. (2) Previous NSF review panels have recognized the OFP as an invaluable "community resource". The OFP will continue to share its resources- sample material, data, ancillary ship time, and use of the mooring platform- with researchers and students to make possible a diverse range of investigations at a very low cost to the community. (3) The OFP sample archive is a rare treasure. The sample material to be collected will continue to be invaluable for current and future biogeochemical and climate research. (4) Educational experiences provided by the OFP broaden the research experiences and science directions of many young students and early investigators at critical junctures in their careers. Of particular value are opportunities to become directly involved with observational oceanography, time-series research and integrated ship- and mooring-based research activities occurring at the Bermuda Time Series site