Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CARBOn remineralization in the ROss SEa: role of the microbial community in the mesopelagic layer and deeper ocean to modulate the efficiency of the biological pump.  (CARBOROSE)

Outline
The Southern Ocean and the Ross Sea are key sites to study physical and biological processes controlling the removal of the atmospheric carbon dioxide. The contribution of the biota to the net flux of CO2 between the atmosphere and the ocean is the result of the balance between inorganic carbon assimilation by primary producers, the export of organic matter as dissolved carbon and particulate fluxes toward abyssal system and sediments, as well as of the microbial remineralisation in the water column. The deep sea microbial assemblage controls the efficiency of the biological pump and it also play a key role in sinking organic matter modulation and transformation. Only the amount of carbon that has not been remineralised in the mesopelagic layer remains confined in the deeper ocean and in the sediments for periods longer than up to thousand of years.Studies on the microbial communities in the Antarctic ecosystems are far less known than those on their phytoplanktonic counterparts, on the primary production and on the biogenic sedimentation. Moreover, few data are available on organic matter fractions, particulate and dissolved, which are preferably processed by bacteria during hydrolytic and oxidative processes. The knowledge of the activity of microbial communities is necessary to understand the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and the response of the ecosystems to possible future climatic changes.The project aims to study the role of microbial processes in the Antarctic meso- and bathy-pelagic systems to control the efficiency of the carbon export. In particular the project aims: 1)to study the remineralisation processes of dissolved and particulate organic matter in the meso-pelagic layer and in the deeper ocean; 2)to study the variability of microbial processes on a sub-regional scale. Sites with different trophic structure will be selected in the Ross Sea and outer the continental slope; 3)to evaluate the role that microbial processes have in controlling carbon budget in the southern ocean and the possible implication for the climate; 4)to couple microbiological studies to the long term series of data on biogeochemical cycles and sedimentation, already available in the Ross Sea.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
q1_6_Advances : The project will help to: 1)better understand the role of microbial community in controlling the efficiency of the carbon biological pump in the ocean; 2)study the carbon and nitrogen cycling in the marine environment; 3)improve knowledge of Ross Sea ecology; 4)better understand possible interactions and feedbacks between the carbon and nitrogen cycling and climate; 5)continue and manage the oceanographic time series and to maintain their acquisition facilities.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Previous projects carried out on this topic by the participants had taken advantage of international collaboration (eg: USA and European countries) which will continue for the present project. Mooring A is shared with the USAP since 1992. Partners are available for a joint EC of international funding proposal to be submitted.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Location : The field work will be performed in 3 stations along a latitudinal gradient. Two stations (A and B), characterised by different trophic aspects, will be placed in the Ross Sea in sites, where long time series of referring data already exist. One station will be placed in the ocean out of the continental shelf.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 12/06-03/07            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
This project will benefit of the facilities provided by the Italian National Program of Research in Antarctica (P.N.R.A.): Research vessel R/V Italica, the infrastructures of long-term P.N.R.A. moorings in the Ross Sea. The infrastructure will be shared with other projects on the oceanography of the Ross Sea.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Two running moorings, and their continuous 10 years time series, will be a legacy for the future projects. A global data base on the topic will be improved. Data provided by the present project as wall as past oceanographic and sediment data since 1987 from partners will be considered.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

The project will be run under the P.N.R.A. activities.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This proposal is under preparation for submission to P.N.R.A. funding

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
YES

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be organised as follows: Main project leader: CNR - Marine Science Institute, Trieste; PIs: CNR - Marine Science Institute, Bologna CNR - Marine Science Institute, La Spezia; CNR – IAMC, Messina.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
PHD student grants, research fellowships, post-doc contracts are planned. Web connections to high schools are planned during field work. National and international congresses and lectures.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data quality will be checked by every PI. Data will be available to project partners during the project, and will be after managed according to the P.N.R.A. rules. Metadata will be available upon request to the scientific community trough the project web-site.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project will be co-funded by P.N.R.A.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Giulio Catalano
CNR – I.S.MAR. Trieste
CNR – I.SMA.R – Sezione di Oceanografia Chimica e Fisica di Trieste; Viale Romolo Gessi, 2
34123
Italy

Tel: +39 040 305506
Mobile: no
Fax: +39 040 308941
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation