Particle Export and Remineralization in the Southern Ocean south of Australia: a WHOI Contribution to the Australian 'SAZ PROJECT'

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

0087530 Honjo The proposed work will provide and maintain of a deep sea sediment trap mooring in the Polar Frontal Zone south of Australia, which complements a similar Australian sediment trap mooring in the Subantarctic Zone deployed by the Australian Antarctic Cooperative Research Centre. The Australian program has recently been extended; this proposal work will extend the joint work for two years until 2003. The specific objective is to examine the production of particulate matter, remineralization, and export using a radionuclide technique that will allow the evaluation of sediment trap efficiency. A further objective is to document whether intermediate depth water masses that are ventilated at high southern latitudes can provide a temporary reservoirfor anthropogenic carbon dioxide, and to understand the role of this region in the long term trends and interannual variability of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.