US-GLOBEC: NWA/Georges Bank - Marine Ecosystem Responses to Climate-Associated Remote Forcing from the Labrador Sea

在过去十年中，美国GLOBEC西北大西洋/乔治海岸项目在了解西北大西洋气候与海洋生态系统之间的联系方面取得了重大进展。该研究表明，物理环流模式对北大西洋涛动（NAO）的相位变化有响应，而在苏格兰大陆架（SS）、缅因州湾（GOM）和乔治滩（GB）生态系统中，对NAO强迫的物理和生物响应表现出一定程度的可预测性。该项目将评估来自拉布拉多海的遥远上游作用力对整个西北大西洋生态系统过程的作用。以往的研究为拉布拉多海的远程强迫在耦合坡水系统（CSWS）的介导下影响SS/GOM/GB地区生态系统过程的假设提供了证据。这一结果将扩大这一早期研究的范围，以检验以下假设：(1)。SS/GOM/GB区域生态系统过程的远程强迫是由CSWS和来自上游来源（包括拉布拉多海）的低盐度陆架水的增强输送介导的。(2)拉布拉多海远程强迫影响SS/GOM/GB区域和中大西洋湾（MAB）的生态系统过程。这些假设将通过对气候、遥感、物理海洋学、生物海洋学和渔业时间序列数据的回顾性分析加以探讨。一个由该地区气候科学家、海洋学家和渔业科学家组成的工作组将与研究小组合作，指导研究议程并协助解释结果。评估气候变率和变化的区域影响是21世纪最大的科学挑战之一。该项目旨在发展对西北大西洋海洋生态系统的气候影响的预测性认识，从而为海洋生物资源的管理者提供业务投入。本研究通过培养研究生，将教育与研究相结合。

During the past decade, the US GLOBEC Northwest Atlantic/Georges Bank Program has made significant advances in the understanding of the linkages between climate and marine ecosystems in the Northwest Atlantic. This research has shown that physical circulation patterns are responsive to phase changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and that physical and biological responses to NAO forcing in the Scotian Shelf (SS), Gulf of Maine (GOM) and Georges Bank (GB) ecosystems exhibit some degree of predictability. This project will assess the role of remote upstream forcing from the Labrador Sea on ecosystem processes throughout the Northwest Atlantic. Previous studies provided evidence for the hypothesis that remote forcing from the Labrador Sea, as mediated by the Coupled Slope Water System (CSWS), impacts ecosystem processes in the SS/GOM/GB region. This result will expand the scope of this earlier research to examine the following hypotheses: (1). Remote forcing of ecosystem processes in the SS/GOM/GB region is mediated by the CSWS and by enhanced transport of lower salinity shelf waters derived from upstream sources, including the Labrador Sea.(2) Remote forcing from the Labrador Sea impacts ecosystem processes in the SS/GOM/GB region and in the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB). These hypotheses will be explored via retrospective analyses of climate, remote-sensing, physical oceanographic, biological oceanographic, and fisheries time-series data. A working group composed of climate scientists, oceanographers, and fisheries scientists from the region will work with the research team to steer the research agenda and assist in the interpretation of results. Assessing the regional impacts of climate variability and change is one of the greatest scientific challenges of the 21st century. This project aims to develop a predictive understanding of climate impacts on marine ecosystems in the Northwest Atlantic thus enabling operational input to the managers of living marine resources. Education is integrated into research in this study by training graduate students.