Ocean Acidification in the Canada Basin: Roles of Sea Ice

这项拟议的研究旨在确定北冰洋加拿大海盆海洋酸化和碳酸盐不饱和的机制。研究人员将利用一个为期3年的数据集，探讨涉及海冰过程的两个具体机制的作用：(1)多年海冰最近融化导致的地表水淡水和饱和不足，以及(2)在日益周期性的季节性海冰生长和衰退期间，由盐水拒绝和碳酸盐矿物降水驱动的“碳泵”机制导致的地表水不足。拟议的工作将扩大对北冰洋无机碳循环、大气-海洋二氧化碳交换率和酸化的理解。了解基线及其变化情况，对于确定有关海洋酸化对动植物影响的进程研究的实际参数十分重要。研究人员将参加即将到来的一次(2012年)研究巡航，并分析这些数据以及之前两次(2010年和2011年)探险的数据。调查人员提议继续在2011年探险中启动的一个外展网站，包括邮轮和海洋酸化的背景，一个描述不同日子的杂志？这些活动包括一个供公众就邮轮和我们的研究提出问题的机制以及对这些问题的回答，以及一个关于海洋酸化材料的教育和宣传网页。这项拟议的研究还将有助于研究生教育，并促进大学(USF)和政府(USGS)科学家之间的合作。

The proposed research aims to identify mechanisms of ocean acidification and carbonate undersaturation in the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean. The investigators will use a 3-year dataset to address the role of two specific mechanisms involving sea-ice processes: (1) surface water freshening and undersaturation resulting from recent enhanced melting of multi-year sea-ice, and (2) surface water undersaturation resulting from a "carbon-pumping" mechanism driven by brine rejection and carbonate mineral precipitation during increasingly cyclical seasonal sea ice growth and decay. The proposed work would expand understanding of the inorganic carbon cycle, air-sea CO2 exchange rates and acidification in the Arctic Ocean. Understanding baselines and how they are changing is important for setting realistic parameters for process studies on the effects of ocean acidification on flora and fauna. The investigators would participate in one upcoming (2012) research cruise and analyze these data along with that from two previous (2010 and 2011) expeditions. The investigators propose to continue an outreach website initiated on the 2011 expedition, including background about the cruise and ocean acidification, a journal depicting different days? activities, a mechanism for the public to ask questions regarding the cruise and our research and answers to those questions, and an education and outreach page with material on ocean acidification. The proposed research will also contribute to graduate student education, and facilitate collaboration between university (USF) and government (USGS) scientists.