We propose to develop a suite of physical and biological models that incorporate data sets collected in the Ross Sea as part of the U.S. Southern Ocean Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) and data sets from the west Antarctic Peninsula region collected during the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research program. The modeling effort will be in conjunction with analyses of these data sets as well as analyses of historical data sets from the two regions. The intent of the data analyses and modeling activities is to provide syntheses that allow comparison of similarities and differences in the two systems and thereby allowing fundamental questions on the controls of phytoplankton productivity and growth in these two systems to be addressed. Our general focus is on understanding the role of light, macro- and micronutrient limitation, and circulation in producing the observed horizontal and vertical gradients in phytoplankton distribution and production. Thus, the data analyses and model simulations will be used to test specific hypotheses concerning the regulation of phytoplankton growth, production, and species composition in the two regions.

This study will directly address several of the major Synthesis and Modeling Project research themes, especially those related to understanding processes controlling primary production and export production. Also, the incorporation data sets from another region of the Antarctic provides a mechanism for placing the observations obtained during the U.S. JGOFS Southern Ocean program into a broader context. This study will be the first to systematically compare and contrast regions of the Antarctic in this manner. We believe that the results of our collaborative research will have a significant impact on development of trophic level models within the Southern Ocean, and also have implications for ecosystem level studies in other regions of the world ocean.

Model results for the Ross Sea and West Antarctic Peninsula regions
Model results for the Ross Sea nutrients

Dinniman, M.S., J.M. Klinck and W.O. Smith, Jr. 2003. Cross shelf exchange in a model of the Ross Sea circulation and biogeochemistry. Deep-Sea Research II, 50(22-26), 3103-3120, doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2003.07.011

Hofmann, E.E. and Y.S. Husrevoglu. 2003. A circumpolar modeling study of habitat control of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) reproductive success, Deep-Sea Research II, 50(22-26), 3121-3124, doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2003.07.012

Smith, W.O., Jr., M.S. Dinniman, J.M. Klinck and E.E. Hofmann. 2003. Biogeochemical climatologies of the Ross Sea, Antarctica: seasonal patterns of nutrients and biomass. Deep-Sea Research II, 50(22-26),3083-3101, doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2003.07.010

Prezelin, B.B., E.E. Hofmann, M. Moline and J.M. Klinck, 2004. Recognizing Physical Forcing of Phytoplankton Community Structure and Primary Production in Continental Shelf Waters of the Western Antarctic Peninsula: Synthesis and Analyses of Five Seasonal Cruises. Journal of Marine Research, in press.

Friedrichs; et al. "Regional ecosystem model testbeds. A JGOFS synthesis and modeling project."

Hofmann  "Evaluation of marine primary productivity in the tropical Pacific and Atlantic Oceans using satellite ocean color and numerical models"

Eileen E. Hofmann
Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography
Crittenton Hall
Old Dominion University
768 West 52nd Street
Norfolk, VA 23529
tel: (757) 683-5334
fax: (757) 683-5550
hofmann@ccpo.odu.edu
http://www.ccpo.odu.edu:80/Facstaff/faculty/hofmann.html

John M. Klinck
Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography
Crittenton Hall
Old Dominion University
768 West 52nd Street
Norfolk, VA 23529
tel: 757-683-6005
klinck@ccpo.odu.edu
http://www.ccpo.odu.edu:80/Facstaff/faculty/klinck.html

Walker O. Smith
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Greate Road
Box 1346
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
tel: 804-684-7709
fax: 804-684-7293
wos@vims.edu
http://www.vims.edu/bio/plankton/smith_wo.html

Barbara B. Prézelin
Biological Sciences
Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
tel: 805-893-2879/4319
fax: 805-893-4724
barbara@icess.ucsb.edu
http://lifesci.ucsb.edu/EEMB/faculty/prezelin/