Acronym: OCB-010
Program: Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry [OCB]
Url: Project Web Site
Start date:
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Geolocation: North Atlantic
Description:

from www.us-ocb.org

Chemical components delivered to the surface ocean through atmospheric deposition influence ocean productivity and ecosystem structure thus are tightly related to the global carbon cycle and climate. Accordingly, the major aim of this project is to quantitatively estimate the variable impact of aerosol deposition on marine phytoplankton; to determine the specific effects on various taxa and to use this data to better understand the global impact of aerosols on the oceanic ecosystem. To accomplish this we incorporate field, laboratory, modeling, and remote sensing data analysis. Specifically we estimate aerosol deposition fluxes from different sources (using direct and remote sensing techniques in combination with an atmospheric transport model), measure the chemical composition and solubility of aerosols and evaluate the contribution of aerosols to nutrient and trace metals to seawater at different sites. The effects of the different aerosol “types” (defined by source and chemical characteristics) on specific phytoplankton taxa and on ecosystem structure and function is evaluated using pure culture and natural samples bioassays. These data will be synthesized by developing and validating a model of the interactions between aerosol deposition and ecosystem response. In the future, this model could also be used for prediction purposes and coupled to ocean ecosystem and biogeochemistry models. This project is particularly important in light of the role atmospheric deposition can assume in oligotrophic settings and the predicted future global changes in dust and other aerosol fluxes.

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More information about project Aerosol Deposition Impacts on Phytoplankton Productivity and Ecosystem Structure
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Datasets associated with Aerosol Deposition Impacts on Phytoplankton Productivity and Ecosystem Structure
Platform deployments associated with Aerosol Deposition Impacts on Phytoplankton Productivity and Ecosystem Structure
People associated with Aerosol Deposition Impacts on Phytoplankton Productivity and Ecosystem Structure