PROJECT SUMMARY

We propose to synthesize large-scale oceanic (dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon, sea-surface temperature, mixed layer depth, heat flux) and atmospheric (O2/N2 ratio) datasets at on large scales in the Southern Hemisphere south of 30 S. The chemical and physical datasets will be used to construct estimates of monthly, zonally-averaged net community production of organic carbon in the ocean mixed layer. Following these analyses, we will also investigate interannual relationships between those variables (O2/N2, SST, heat flux) which are available as continuous time-series with the goal of understanding interannual controls on production and carbon cycling. Our study will clarify the magnitude of and large-scale controls on production and carbon flux in the Southern Ocean and provide a basis for intercomparison with independent estimates based on satellite-derived ocean color. These studies will also establish the basis for using atmospheric observations for documenting and interpreting annual and interannual variations in the future.