Quantifying biological productivity and ocean carbon uptake in the NE Subarctic Pacific using observations and models

地球系统模型是评估当前和未来地球环境变化的重要工具。然而，关于海洋吸收碳的模式，仍然存在许多模型上的分歧。该项目将进行实地观测和计算机模拟，以确定东北太平洋亚北极地区的生物碳吸收率。该项目将整合各种观测，例如船上、自主浮子、卫星测量，以及高性能计算。这个项目将有助于确定模型偏差的原因，并有助于未来的模型开发。这项研究将从亚特兰大地区附近的hbcu和夏季REU项目中聘请当地本科生作为学生助理。该项目分为三个主题。首先是结合生物生产力的体外、原位和卫星观测。二是建立区域碳与生态系统模型。三是生物生产力和海气碳通量的时空变异特征。主要目标是通过原位和体外方法和建模相结合，量化和减少区域生物碳吸收的不确定性。现场组件将于2024年6月使用Line P时间序列巡航。在五个主要站点进行孵育实验（13C, 15NO3, 15NH4），同时进行高分辨率的O2/Ar测量。这将量化初级生产和碳出口。为了增加数据覆盖范围，自主浮标和卫星观测将被纳入其中。新的和现有的观测结果将用于验证和校准一个新的三维区域生态系统和碳循环模型，该模型具有涡旋分辨率。将对该模式进行校准，然后使用该模式进行多年代际模拟（1995年至今）。一套敏感性模型实验将探索广泛的科学问题和假设，包括铁动力学的作用，中尺度物理特征，气候模式和极端事件，如海洋热浪。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。

Earth system models are important tools to evaluate the current and future changes in the Earth’s environment. However, there are still many model disagreements about the patterns of carbon uptake by the oceans. This project will carry out field observations and computer modeling to determine the biological carbon uptake in the subarctic NE Pacific. This project will integrate various observations, for example, shipboard, autonomous float, satellite measurement, with high-performance computing. This project will help identify the causes of model biases and contribute to future model development. This study will engage local undergraduates as student assistants from nearby HBCUs in the Atlanta area and through summer REU program. The project is organized into three themes. First is the integration of in-vitro, in-situ and satellite observations of biological productivity. Second is the development of a regional carbon and ecosystem model. Third is characterization of spatial and temporal variability of biological productivity and air-sea carbon flux. The main objective is to quantify and reduce uncertainty in the regional biological carbon uptake through the combination of in situ and vitro methods and modeling. The field component will utilize the Line P time-series cruise in June 2024. Incubation experiments (13C, 15NO3, 15NH4) at five major stations will be conducted together with high-resolution underway O2/Ar measurements. This will quantify primary production and carbon export. To increase data coverage, autonomous floats and satellite observations will be incorporated. The new and existing observations will be used to validate and calibrate a new 3-dimensional regional ecosystem and carbon cycle model at eddy-resolving resolution. This model will be calibrated, then this model will be used to carry out multi-decadal simulation (1995-present). A suite of sensitivity model experiments will explore a wide range of scientific questions and hypotheses including the role of iron dynamics, mesoscale physical features, climate modes, and extreme events such as marine heat waves.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.