DEEP SEA CORALS AS HIGH RESOLUTION RECORDERS OF SOUTHERN OCEAN NUTRIENT CHEMISTRY AND CIRCULATION

有令人信服的证据表明，自19世纪末以来，由于大气中二氧化碳的增加，地球一直在急剧变暖。这项研究旨在了解南大洋作为二氧化碳“仓库”的长期作用，以及它在控制地球气候变化方面的重要性。我们将使用深海的珊瑚骨架作为海洋环流和营养水平的档案。这些信息将有助于揭示南大洋的生物活动是如何在之前的气候变化中做出反应的，以及这是如何控制地球大气中的二氧化碳水平的。这将使我们更好地了解温室效应及其对未来气候的影响。

There is compelling evidence that the Earth has been warming dramatically since the end of the 19th century as a consequence of increasing atmospheric CO2. This study aims to understand the long-term role of the Southern Ocean as a 'store-house' for CO2, and its significance in controlling changes in the Earth's climate. We will use coral skeletons from the deep oceans as archives of ocean circulation and nutrient levels. This information will help unravel how biological activity in the Southern Ocean has responded during previous episodes of climate change, and how this has controlled the levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere. This will provide a better understanding of greenhouse warming and its effect on our future climate.