Collaborative Research: Using models and historical data to guide effective monitoring and enhance understanding of deep ocean oxygen variability

海洋是较大的生命形式的家园，它们需要氧气才能呼吸，而较小的生命形式产生的氧气约占我们最终呼吸的一半。令人担忧的是，观测记录表明，海洋的含氧量正在下降。最先进的气候模型预测，这一趋势将持续到21世纪末。由于稀疏的数据覆盖，氧气损失的速度和原因非常不确定。近年来，通过ARGO计划的剖面浮标船队的测量，我们对海洋的盐度和温度变化有了很大的了解。到目前为止，这些花车中的大多数还没有测量到氧气。ARGO计划的生物地球化学(在2000米以上运行)和深部(4000至6000米)组件的拟议扩展将解决氧气测量方面的这一不足。该项目将制定一种有效的采样方案，用于在整个海洋深度上观测海洋氧气。该项目将利用现有的氧气观测和最先进的数字工具，提供可行和有效的氧气采样策略的第一个设计。焦点放在了深渊的角色上。这项工作将计算解决氧气随时间和空间变化所需的浮游物数量和分布。同时，这项工作将考虑到氧气测量仪器的准确性和稳定性。数值模型将被用来确定历史和额外的氧气数据如何减少对正在进行的海洋氧气损失的理解的不确定性。在该项目的整个过程中，研究人员将领导几个活动并制作教材，以吸引下一代海洋科学家。他们将传达海洋氧气损失的重要性，气候变化的影响，以及通过改进氧气监测更好地保护生态系统的机会。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The ocean is home to larger lifeforms that need oxygen to breathe and smaller lifeforms that produce about half of the oxygen we end up breathing. Concerningly, the observational record indicates that the ocean is losing its oxygen content. State-of-the-art climate models predict this trend will continue through the end of the 21st century. Rates and cause of the oxygen loss are highly uncertain due to sparse data coverage. In recent years, we have learned greatly about the ocean’s salinity and temperature changes from measurements made by the fleet of profiling floats of the Argo program. To date, most of these floats have not measured oxygen. Proposed expansions of the Biogeochemical (operating over the upper 2000 m) and Deep (4000 to 6000 m) components of the Argo program will address this deficit in oxygen measurements. This project will devise an effective sampling protocol for observing ocean oxygen over the full ocean depth. This project will use existing oxygen observations and state-of-the-art numerical tools to provide the first design of a feasible and effective oxygen sampling strategy. The focus is on the role of Deep Argo. This work will calculate the float populations and distributions required to resolve oxygen changes over time and space. At the same time, this work will account for the accuracy and stability of oxygen measuring instruments. Numerical models will be used to determine how historical and additional oxygen data can reduce the uncertainty in understanding of ongoing ocean oxygen loss. Through the course of the project, the researchers will lead several events and create teaching materials to engage the next generation of ocean scientists. They will communicate the importance of ocean oxygen loss, the influence of climate change, and the opportunity to better protect ecosystems through improved oxygen monitoring.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.