Reactive iron supply to shelf sediments and surface waters of the California Current System

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。沿海上升流系统是在生产力，海气二氧化碳交换和碳封存方面非常重要的海洋区域，以及具有经济和生态价值的渔业。在加州海流系统（CCS），一个上升流区的加州海岸，一个完善的极地增加浮游植物生物量和生产力已被确定。 然而，生产力的这种纬度梯度的原因尚不清楚。来自俄勒冈州州立大学的一位科学家假设，这种现象的存在是因为大量来自河流的铁被输送到沿海大陆架。 因此，研究人员将进行实验，以确定控制CCS中地表沃茨生物有效铁供应的因素。 此外，还将评估CCS内生物可利用铁的供应是否向北增加，以及是否与河流径流有关。 这些目标将通过量化铁在俄勒冈州大陆架表层水，底层水和表层沉积物的时间变异性，以及沉积活性铁池中的空间变异性沿着西海岸的河流流量梯度来实现。通过更好地了解CCS铁投入的规模、机制和纬度变化，科学界将能够更好地预测铁供应对沿海生产力的影响。这项研究的教育影响包括对博士后学者和本科生的支持，以及通过科学和工程计划学徒为当地高中生提供实习职位。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Coastal upwelling systems are oceanic regions of great importance with regard to productivity, air-sea carbon dioxide exchange, and carbon sequestration, as well as economically and ecologically valuable fisheries. In the California Current System (CCS), an upwelling region off the coast of California, a well-established poleward increase of phytoplankton biomass and productivity has been identified. However, the cause of this latitudinal gradient in productivity is unknown. A scientist from Oregon State University hypothesizes that this phenomena exists because of the amount of river-derived iron being delivered to the coastal shelf. As such, the researcher will be conducting experiments to determine the factors governing the supply of bioavailable iron to surface waters in the CCS. In addition, whether there is a northward increase in the supply of bioavailable iron within the CCS and whether it is linked to river runoff will also be evaluated. These goals will be attained by quantifying the temporal variability of iron in the Oregon shelf surface water, bottom water, and surface sediments, as well as the spatial variability in the pool of sedimentary reactive iron along the west coast gradient in river flow. Through the development of a better understanding of the magnitude, mechanism, and latitudinal variability of iron inputs to the CCS, the scientific community will be better able to predict the impacts of iron supply on coastal productivity. The educational impacts of this research include support for a post-doctoral scholar and an undergraduate student, as well as internship position for a local high school student via the Apprenticeship in Science and Engineering Program.