Nelson, Norman (Norm): University of California, Santa Barbara (Project Lead)
Project Funding:
2014 - 2016
NRA: 2013 NASA: Terra and Aqua: Algorithms--Existing Data Products
Funded by NASA
Abstract:
We now have a 20-year continuing time series of observations of in-water spectral light fluxes (irradiance and radiance) and an 18 year time series of component absorption spectra collected at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study site in the northwest Sargasso Sea. These measurements, in conjunction with Aqua and Terra observations made over the last 10-15 years, will be used to analyze the impact of climate-change- driven increasing temperature, stratification, and decreasing pH on the microbial community of the subtropical gyres and how they can be studied using ocean color technology. We propose to continue the in situ time series, employing in part new technology developed during the prior funding period: a drifting buoy system equipped with state-of-the-art radiometers and a novel tethered profiler. We will also use current and historic MODIS data to look at trends in ocean color reflectance spectra and sea surface temperature, and CERES data to look at surface radiation budgets, to examine seasonal and interannual trends in phytoplankton and chromophoric dissolved organic material abundance in the Sargasso Sea. The proposed research is a science data analysis proposal in the ocean biology and biogeochemistry measurements area, making use primarily of Aqua MODIS ocean color and sea surface temperature data, with Terra MODIS SST and CERES data used as well. The proposed research is responsive to the Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems focus area of the NASA Earth Science Research and Analysis plan, specifically addressing the question "how are global ecosystems changing" and working toward assessment of open ocean ecosystem response to climatic change on the decadal time scale.
More details may be found in the following project profile(s):
