Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/L000075/1

Effects of near surface ocean gradients upon shelf sea air/sea gas exchange estimates

Lead Supervisor:: Dr TG Bell, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab
Grant held at:: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab

Abstract:: Physical and biological mechanisms affect the sea surface concentration and flux of carbon dioxide (CO2) between the ocean and atmosphere. Gradients in temperature and salinity between the bulk sub-surface water and the sea/air interface are likely. Variations in phytoplankton primary production also have the potential to create vertical gradients in pCO2. This studentship seeks to improve understanding of these physical and chemical gradients in near surface (<10 m) shelf waters. Vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and pCO2 will be collected during the CArbon/Nutrient DYnamics and FLuxes Over Shelf Systems (CANDYFLOSS) program and over a seasonal cycle at the Western Channel Observatory (WCO, E1) to cover the spatial and temporal variability of the NW European Shelf. This studentship will help to improve existing efforts to quantify spatial and temporal variability in sea-air CO2 exchange. The results from this work will compliment and add value to a suite of large research efforts that aim to assess large scale sea-air CO2 exchange: the CANDYFLOSS program, a European Space Agency project (OceanFlux) and the NERC Greenhouse Gases consortium, RAGNARoCC. This work will help answer a critical question within the Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry (SSB) research programme: What are the current annual exchanges of carbon between UK/European shelf seas, the atmosphere, and the open ocean?

Authorised funds only

This training grant award has a total value of £85,868

Total - Fees	Total - Student Stipend	Total - RTSG
£16,724	£56,434	£12,709

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