Steele, Michael: University of Washington (Project Lead)
Matrai, Patricia (Paty): Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science (Co-Investigator)
Riser, Steve: University of Washington (Participant)
Project Funding:
2010 - 2014
NRA: 2009 NASA: Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry
Funded by NASA
Abstract:
We propose to examine the long-term, seasonal variability of primary production as a function of changes in sea ice cover, stratification, and temperature regimes measured in the Beaufort Sea throughout the growing season. We propose to accomplish this by taking high frequency observations provided by autonomous floats. We will build an ARGO float that will cycle between 2000 m depth and the surface. The floats will have thermistors (to examine warming and possible temperature regulation of biological processes at cold, sub-zero temperatures), conductivity cell(s) (to observe stratification/mixed layer depth), dissolved oxygen sensor(s) (to determine primary production), and fluorometer/backscattering(s) (to determine phytoplankton biomass which then allows primary production estimates by published, empirical, Arctic Ocean-specific algorithms). In Year 2, a nitrate sensor will be added to estimate NO3- consumption, new production and net community production. We will use these single point field measurements to validate key remotely sensed variables such as sea surface temperature and salinity (SST and SSS), chlorophyll a, and primary production. We will also use these satellite data to scale up the single point float measurements to the regional scales of the Beaufort Sea. Finally, the combination of a recently compiled data set of historical values of pan-arctic primary production and chlorophyll a with an existing Arctic Ocean hydrographic database will allow examination of case studies (retrospective and forward) in order to better understand the temporal evolution of primary productivity and its physical controls in this rapidly changing ecosystem over the spring, summer, and fall seasons. The paucity of existing primary production data in the Beaufort Sea, and the Arctic Ocean as a whole, in space and time and the difficulty of obtaining higher frequency data by expensive and infrequent ship-based measurements beg for a field based approach that is complementary to, and supportive of, the cloud and ice limited satellite measurements possible in the Beaufort Sea.
Publications:
Steele, M., Ermold, W. 2015. Loitering of the retreating sea ice edge in the
A
rctic
S
eas. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 120(12), 7699-7721. DOI: 10.1002/2015JC011182
Zhang, J., Ashjian, C., Campbell, R., Hill, V., Spitz, Y. H., Steele, M. 2014. The great 2012 Arctic Ocean summer cyclone enhanced biological productivity on the shelves. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 119(1), 297-312. DOI: 10.1002/2013JC009301
Matrai, P. A., Olson, E., Suttles, S., Hill, V., Codispoti, L. A., Light, B., Steele, M. 2013. Synthesis of primary production in the Arctic Ocean: I. Surface waters, 1954-2007. Progress in Oceanography. 110, 93-106. DOI: 10.1016/j.pocean.2012.11.004
Codispoti, L. A., Kelly, V., Thessen, A., Matrai, P., Suttles, S., Hill, V., Steele, M., Light, B. 2013. Synthesis of primary production in the Arctic Ocean: III. Nitrate and phosphate based estimates of net community production. Progress in Oceanography. 110, 126-150. DOI: 10.1016/j.pocean.2012.11.006
Hill, V. J., Matrai, P. A., Olson, E., Suttles, S., Steele, M., Codispoti, L. A., Zimmerman, R. C. 2013. Synthesis of integrated primary production in the Arctic Ocean: II. In situ and remotely sensed estimates. Progress in Oceanography. 110, 107-125. DOI: 10.1016/j.pocean.2012.11.005
Popova, E. E., Yool, A., Coward, A. C., Dupont, F., Deal, C., Elliott, S., Hunke, E., Jin, M., Steele, M., Zhang, J. 2012. What controls primary production in the Arctic Ocean? Results from an intercomparison of five general circulation models with biogeochemistry. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 117(C8). DOI: 10.1029/2011JC007112
2011 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s)
- The Autonomous Polar Productivity Sampling System (APPSS)
-- (Michael Steele, Dana Swift, Steve Riser, Patricia Matrai)
[abstract]
More details may be found in the following project profile(s):
