Improved Observations and Understanding of northeast Pacific Coastal CO2 Fluxes

有观点认为，全球沿海海洋要么是二氧化碳的源，要么是二氧化碳的汇，而大气每年的二氧化碳排放量约为1毫微克。造成这种不确定性的原因是沿海海洋在一系列时间和空间尺度上的强烈变异性，以及在时间和空间上缺乏足够的数据覆盖面来限制这种变异性。例如，在东北太平洋，最近的数据汇编表明，高纬度地区可能构成大气二氧化碳的强汇，而中纬度地区接近中性，低纬度地区可能产生大量来源。为了提高二氧化碳交换估计的准确性，需要在通量潜在重要的数据覆盖范围较差的目标区域收集新数据，并观察物理和生物光学参数，以便于数据解释和开发表层海洋二氧化碳浓度的数据代理。在这项研究中，俄勒冈州立大学的PI将专注于从俄勒冈到阿拉斯加的北美太平洋海岸，这可能是一个强大的汇区域，但数据密度极低。它们将在这一几乎没有观测的目标区域进行巡航，以期捕捉海-气二氧化碳通量的季节循环。将在现场和卫星物理和生物光学数据的背景下解释二氧化碳数据的空间和时间模式。新的数据将用于重新计算北美、西海岸、海-气之间的总二氧化碳通量，并被纳入现有的数据库，用于卫星算法的开发。对东北太平洋沿岸通量的准确估计和更好的理解也很重要，因为这些水域预先规定了流入大陆的气团的二氧化碳化学，从而影响了对陆地碳循环的估计。从更广泛的影响来看，这项研究解决了与沿海海洋碳循环有关的一个重要问题。该项目将在一个高度跨学科的环境中培养一名博士生。本科生将以REU学生的身份参与该项目，至少部分由研究生提供建议，在他科学生涯的这个阶段提供一个重要的指导机会。高中生将通过科学和工程学徒计划得到接待，该计划包括一个关于职业机会的夏季研讨会。

Arguments have been made for the global coastal ocean being either a source or a sink of CO2 with the atmosphere to the tune of ~1 petagram C per year. The uncertainty is the result of strong coastal ocean variability at a range of temporal and spatial scales, and a lack of adequate data coverage in both time and space to constrain this variability. For instance, in the northeast Pacific, recent data compilations show that high latitude regions possibly constitute a strong sink for atmospheric CO2, while mid-latitude regions are close to neutral and low latitude regions may produce a large source. To improve the accuracy of the CO2 exchange estimates requires the collection of new data in targeted regions of poor data coverage where fluxes are potentially important, coupled with observations of physical and bio-optical parameters to facilitate data interpretation and the development of data proxies for surface ocean CO2 concentration.In this research, PIs from Oregon State University will focus on the North American Pacific coast from Oregon to Alaska potentially a strong sink region, but one with extremely poor data density. Hosted on vessels and moorings of opportunity, they will conduct cruises in this targeted region of few observations with a view to capturing the seasonal cycle of air-sea CO2 flux. The spatial and temporal patterns in the CO2 data will be interpreted in the context of in situ and satellite physical and bio-optical data. The new data will be used to recalculate the total North American, west coast, air-sea CO2 flux, and be incorporated into an existing database for satellite algorithm development. Accurate estimates and a better understanding of northeast Pacific coastal fluxes are also important because these waters pre-condition the CO2 chemistry of air masses flowing onto the continent, thus impacting estimates of terrestrial carbon cycling.In terms of broader impacts, this research addresses an important question relevant to carbon cycling in the coastal ocean. The project will train a PhD student in a strongly interdisciplinary environment. Undergraduates will be involved in the project as REU students, at least partly advised by the graduate student, providing an important mentoring opportunity at this stage of his scientific career. High school students will be hosted through the Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering program, which includes a Summer Conference of seminars on career opportunities.