CAREER: The Transformation, Cross-shore Export, and along-shore Transport of Freshwater on Antarctic Shelves

来自高纬度大陆冰融化的淡水排放强烈地控制着盐收支、环流和相关的极地冰架形成的海洋水团。这些在性质上不同于与河流沿岸投入有关的淡水投入。PI提出了一项观测部署，以测量一个特定的、以前确定的沿海淡水驱动洋流的例子，即南极半岛海岸洋流（APCC）。该项目的研究部分旨在提高对南极大陆周围淡水排放动态的了解。相关的研究问题涉及：1)对新鲜、浮力沿海洋流跨大陆架和沿大陆架扩散的控制，2)分布式沿海淡水资源的作用（与低纬度地区典型的“点”源河流流出源相反），以及3)这些沿海洋流对大陆架水团转化和热传递的贡献。教育职业计划的组成部分利用一系列实地经验和研究成果，包括数据，模型输出和理论，将极地科学带入课堂和公众，以及培训新的极地科学家。这种综合策略将使研究者为在特拉华大学作为一名研究人员和教师的成功学术生涯奠定基础。该项目还将提供培养博士生的机会。非正式的推广工作将包括在德利维尔大学赞助的活动中进行公开讲座，包括海岸日，一个吸引8000-10000人的夏季活动，以及利用现有的推广网络从现场进行远程讲座。这项建议需要在南极进行实地考察。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Freshwater discharges from melting high-latitude continental ice glacial reserves strongly control salt budgets, circulation and associated ocean water mass formation arising from polar ice shelves. These are different in nature than freshwater inputs associated with riverine coastal inputs. The PI proposes an observational deployment to measure a specific, previously-identified example of a coastal freshwater-driven current, the Antarctic Peninsula Coastal Current (APCC). The research component of this CAREER project aims to improve understanding of the dynamics of freshwater discharge around the Antarctic continent. Associated research questions pertain to the i) controls on the cross- and along-shelf spreading of fresh, buoyant coastal currents, ii) the role of distributed coastal freshwater sources (as opposed to 'point' source river outflow sources typical of lower latitudes), and iii) the contribution of these coastal currents to water mass transformation and heat transfer on the continental shelf. An educational CAREER program component leverages a series of field experiences and research outputs including data, model outputs, and theory, to bring polar science to the classroom and the general public, as well as training a new polar scientist. This combined strategy will allow the investigator to lay the foundation for a successful academic career as a researcher and teacher at the University of Delaware. The project will also provide the opportunity to train a PhD student. Informal outreach efforts will include giving public lectures at University of Deleware's sponsored events, including Coast Day, a summer event that attracts 8000-10000 people, and remote lectures from the field using an existing outreach network. This proposal requires fieldwork in the Antarctic.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.