NSF abstract:
Recent observations and climate model projections indicate that the global oxygen inventory may be declining due to the lower solubility and the increasing stratification associated with a warming climate. Decomposition of organic matter in the deep sea consumes dissolved oxygen, which must be replenished by the circulation of oxygen-rich waters from the polar regions. Without vigorous oxygen supply from the high latitudes, the global oceans will lose oxygen.
In this study, researchers at Georgia Tech will use a hierarchy of models to simulate oxygen and nutrient cycling in the Labrador Sea, one of the regions of deep water formation in the North Atlantic, over a fifty year period. The Labrador Sea is also a region of extreme seasonality and intense biological productivity, thus oxygen cycling there likely reflects multiple physical and biological processes. Results from this study will promote a better understanding of the interannual variability of oxygen and nutrients in the Labrador Sea, and ultimately contribute to knowledge on how a changing climate impacts these cycles.
Broader Impacts:
The broader impacts of this project include student training, international collaboration and outreach to K-12 students.
Funding Source | Award Number |
---|---|
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) | OCE-1357373 |
Principal Investigator: Takamitsu Ito
Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech)
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr Annalisa Bracco
Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech)
Contact: Takamitsu Ito
Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech)
DMP_Ito_Bracco_OCE-1357373.pdf (279.62 KB)
06/27/2017