RII Track-4: NSF: Toward Tracking Organic Carbon Cycling in a Changing Arctic Ocean using Optical Properties and Numerical Modelling

构成海洋食物网基础的浮游植物正在对北极更高的光照利用率和更新鲜的地表水做出反应。由于海冰提前融化，它们的春季开花时间提前了，最近它们倾向于出现秋季开花。这表明浮游植物正在适应“新北极”。该项目的目标是通过与加利福尼亚州圣地亚哥斯克里普斯海洋学研究所（SIO）的科学家合作，提高对浮游植物起源的有机碳循环的理解。与SIO光学海洋学领域的两位顶尖科学家合作的机会将对PI的研究生涯轨迹产生积极影响，并有可能改变PI的研究生涯轨迹。这些好处也将提高PI所在机构的研究能力。该项目的目标是：1)调查浮游植物对环境变量的响应；2)追踪浮游植物源有机碳的垂直输出；3)预测浮游植物变化对浮游动物丰度的影响。研究人员将分析2010年至2021年秋季期间在北极进行的五次实地考察中获得的几个综合数据集。这些数据包括固有和表观光学特性、浮游植物色素和群落组成，以及一整套物理和化学测量。从最近的活动中获得的样品将被运送到SIO，使用由SIO光学海洋学领域的两位领先专家开发的定制光学仪器和技术进行分析。浮游植物群落组成将由测量的浮游植物吸收光谱得出。有机碳的垂直输出将使用一种基于粒子后向散射剖面的创新方法进行估计。与往年春季和夏季活动的数据一起，秋季数据将用于参数化浮游植物和浮游动物季节演替的数值模型。主要产出将是面向科学界和公众的出版物和简报。预期的结果将包括培训最先进的光学测量和建模技术，并指导博士后将知识整合到数值模型中。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。

Phytoplankton, which form the base of marine food webs, are responding to the associated higher light availability and fresher surface water in the Arctic. Their spring bloom is occurring earlier due to early sea ice melt, and they have recently tended to show a fall bloom. This suggests that the phytoplankton are acclimating to a “new Arctic”. The goal of this project is to improve the understanding of phytoplankton-originating organic carbon cycling through a collaboration with scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in San Diego, California. The opportunity to collaborate with two leading scientists in the field of optical oceanography at SIO will positively impact and potentially transform the PI’s research career trajectory. These benefits will also enhance the research capacity of the PI’s home institution.The goal of the project is to 1) investigate phytoplankton changes in response to environmental variables, 2) track vertical export of phytoplankton-originating organic carbon, and 3) predict the impact of phytoplankton changes on zooplankton abundance. The investigator will analyze several comprehensive datasets acquired on five field campaigns to the Arctic between 2010 and the fall of 2021. The data include inherent and apparent optical properties, phytoplankton pigments and community composition, and a full suite of physical and chemical measurements. Samples obtained from the most recent campaign will be shipped to SIO for analysis using a customized optical instrument and technique developed by two leading experts in the field of Optical Oceanography at SIO. The phytoplankton community composition will be derived from the measured phytoplankton absorption spectra. The vertical export of organic carbon will be estimated using an innovative approach based on profiles of particle backscattering. Together with the data from spring and summer campaigns in previous years, the fall data will be used to parameterize a numerical model of the seasonal succession of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The primary outputs will be publications and presentations for both scientific and public audiences. Expected outcomes will consist of training in the state-of-the-art optical measurement and modelling techniques and mentoring of a post-doc in the integration of the knowledge into a numerical model.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.