Award Abstract # 0838980
Collaborative Research: Seasonal Evolution of Chemical and Biological Variability in the Ross Sea

NSF Org: OPP
Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
Recipient: VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE
Initial Amendment Date: August 5, 2009
Latest Amendment Date: August 5, 2009
Award Number: 0838980
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Charles Amsler
OPP
 Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
GEO
 Directorate For Geosciences
Start Date: August 15, 2009
End Date: July 31, 2013 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $831,131.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $831,131.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2009 = $831,131.00
ARRA Amount: $831,131.00
History of Investigator:
  • Walker Smith (Principal Investigator)
    wos@vims.edu
  • Marjorie Friedrichs (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: College of William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science
1375 GREATE RD
GLOUCESTER POINT
VA  US  23062-2026
(804)684-7000
Sponsor Congressional District: 01
Primary Place of Performance: College of William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Scien
1375 GREATE RD
GLOUCESTER POINT
VA  US  23062-2026
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
01
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): XGE9T6KCMSR4
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): ANT Organisms & Ecosystems
Primary Program Source: 01R00910DB RRA RECOVERY ACT
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, 6890, 9169, EGCH, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 5111
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.082

ABSTRACT


This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).


The Ross Sea is a highly productive area within the Southern Ocean, but it experiences substantial variability in both physical (temperature, ice concentrations, salinity, winds, and current velocities) and biogeochemical (chlorophyll, productivity, micronutrients, higher trophic level standing stocks, gases, etc.) conditions. Understanding the temporal and spatial oceanographic variations in physical forcing is essential to understanding the ecological functioning within the Ross Sea. There are a number of models of the physical oceanography of the Ross Sea that characterize the observed circulation. Unfortunately, data on the appropriate time scales (daily, monthly, seasonal, and interannual) to completely evaluate those models are lacking. The proposed research is a demonstration project to characterize the physical and biological oceanography of the southern Ross Sea using newly developed Glider technology to sample the region continuously through the growing season, to collect temperature, salinity, fluorescence, oxygen and optical transmission data. These field data will be used to assist in evaluation of an eddy-resolving ROMS-based coupled circulation-biological model, and, along with satellite ocean color information, will be assimilated into an ecosystem model. Data assimilation techniques will reduce the model uncertainties of the circulation and food webs of the region. The intellectual merit of this effort arises from the combination of field-based investigations using a novel technology (one that is far more cost-effective than ship-based studies) with state-of-the-art biological-physical models and advanced data assimilation techniques. The research will provide new insights into the complex oceanographic phenomena of the Antarctic continental shelves and is a novel method of continuing the studies of the southern Ross Sea. Broader impacts of the proposed research include training of graduate and undergraduate students and partnership with several ongoing outreach programs dealing with scientific research in the Southern Ocean. At least 2 graduate students will be supported by this research, and it will be a critical component of a variety of outreach programs in Virginia, including a High School Marine Science Day, Boy and Girl Scout education, and middle school curriculum improvement. The investigators also will create a web site to foster immediate release of the data collected by the glider, and seek a linkage with schools at various levels (middle, high school and Universities) that potentially could incorporate the data into classroom activities

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