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1999 Projects: Upper ocean biogeochemistryTemporal variability of nutrients in the upper oceanProject lead/manager: Hans Jannasch Long-term monitoring of dissolved chemicals in seawater is crucial to understanding non-steady state biogeochemical processes in the ocean. Many natural biogeochemical processes are known to undergo significant episodic and sporadic changes, but our understanding of this variability is limited, largely due to a lack of data. This insufficiency of data has been demonstrated by time-series observations and satellite images that reveal the ocean to be highly dynamic. Yet chemical data collection continues to be generally restricted to time frames when ships are available to collect water samples for shipboard or laboratory analysis. Furthermore, the data isn’t representative because samples are mostly collected under favorable weather conditions. Thus, in addition to being resource-intensive and time-consuming, shipboard collection usually results in severe undersampling of the marine ecosystem. New tools for continuous in situ chemical monitoring at remote locations therefore will play an increasingly important role in oceanographic research. This project focuses on scientific questions regarding the characterization, quantification, and effects of nutrient injections into the ocean’s mixed layer. We plan to adapt new chemistries and further develop OsmoAnalyzer technology for the upper ocean to enable monitoring of iron, manganese, and phosphate, in addition to nitrate. Next: Inorganic carbon in coastal upwelling systems Last updated: 07 October 2004 |
