ASPIRE: Amundsen Sea Polynya International Research Expedition

ASPIRE是美国国家科学基金会资助的一个项目，将在2010年南方夏季考察阿蒙森海的生态。 ASPIRE包括一个由微量金属和碳化学家、浮游植物生理学家、微生物和浮游动物生态学家以及物理海洋学家组成的国际团队，他们将调查阿蒙森海冰间湖为什么以及如何比其他冰间湖更有生产力，以及年际变化是否可以为驱动碳通量的气候敏感机制提供见解。该项目将补充现有的ASPIRE努力，使用1）实验操作，以了解在不同的光和微量金属丰度的条件下，浮游植物优势类群的光适应，2）营养物添加生物测定，以确定微量金属与浮游植物生长的氮限制的重要性，和3）数值生态系统模型，以了解混合制度，流场，和铁源在控制浮游植物水华动态和群落组成在这个异常生产力的冰藻系统。该研究战略将整合卫星遥感，实地实验操作和数值模拟。外联和教育包括参与斯坦福大学的科学教师专业发展暑期项目、斯坦福大学地球科学学院的高中实习项目，以及为当地科学培训中心（包括Chabot空间和科学中心）制定课程。 本科生的参与和培训将包括对研究生和本科生助理的支持。

ASPIRE is an NSF-funded project that will examine the ecology of the Amundsen Sea during the Austral summer of 2010. ASPIRE includes an international team of trace metal and carbon chemists, phytoplankton physiologists, microbial and zooplankton ecologists, and physical oceanographers, that will investigate why and how the Amundsen Sea Polynya is so much more productive than other polynyas and whether interannual variability can provide insight to climate-sensitive mechanisms driving carbon fluxes. This project will compliment the existing ASPIRE effort by using 1) experimental manipulations to understand photoacclimation of the dominant phytoplankton taxa under conditions of varying light and trace metal abundance, 2) nutrient addition bioassays to determine the importance of trace metal versus nitrogen limitation of phytoplankton growth, and 3) a numerical ecosystem model to understand the importance of differences in mixing regime, flow field, and Fe sources in controlling phytoplankton bloom dynamics and community composition in this unusually productive polynya system. The research strategy will integrate satellite remote sensing, field-based experimental manipulations, and numerical modeling. Outreach and education include participation in Stanford's Summer Program for Professional Development for Science Teachers, Stanford's School of Earth Sciences high school internship program, and development of curriculum for local science training centers, including the Chabot Space and Science Center. Undergraduate participation and training will include support for both graduate students and undergraduate assistants.