The role of sea ice in the Southern Ocean carbon sink using novel biogeochemical sensors

Lead Research Organisation: University of East Anglia
Department Name: Environmental Sciences

Abstract

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Publications

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Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
NE/S007334/1 30/09/2019 29/09/2028
2086455 Studentship NE/S007334/1 31/08/2018 31/12/2022 Elise Droste
 
Description So far, this award has helped to investigate the effects of tides on the carbonate chemistry of coastal polynyas using a case study at a coastal polynya (area of open water in an otherwise sea ice-covered ocean) alongside an Antarctic ice shelf. It also explains the impact on the CO2 uptake of this particular coastal polynya and how ignoring tidal currents in sampling strategies in similar environments can lead to severe over- or underestimations in the air-sea CO2 flux of coastal polynyas, which are considered to generally have a disproportionate role in the air-sea CO2 exchange in sea ice covered regions.
Exploitation Route Outcomes of this research make clear that tidal currents need to be taken into account when sampling in polar coastal regions for biogeochemical studies. It exposes possible biases in results if tidal influences on the water column properties are not considered. The outcomes of this research also suggest that a certain amount of variability in polar coastal regions may be explained by the timing of sampling and the tidal currents, depending on the location and strength of the currents.
Sectors Environment

 
Description Talk at Parliament for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions on MOSAiC research in the Arctic
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) 
Organisation Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We contributed to the MOSAiC project and consortium by providing laboratory analyses of seawater samples and participation in field work, and sharing scientific expertise. Elise Droste participated on Leg 5 of the MOSAiC expedition in the Central Arctic Ocean and formed part of a team that collected seawater and sea ice samples for a range of ecological, biogeochemical, and physical variables for other international projects associated to MOSAiC, as well as for the MOSAiC Arctic time series itself, in addition to samples for the study of carbonate chemistry in sea ice and seawater that form a part of Elise's own project. Elise has contributed to the organisation of laboratory analyses, field work, data processing, and post-field work meta data organisation. Data processed by Elise is shared with the MOSAiC consortium and continued contributions include data processing, analyses, scientific publications, and participation/engagement in scientific discussions.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has enabled Elise to participate in an expedition at sea to obtain seawater samples for carbonate chemistry for her own project on the Arctic Ocean, as well as access to complementary data collected during the MOSAiC expedition. The financial contribution has led to the purchase of sampling equipment that have been utilised on the expedition, and the laboratory analyses of samples collected on board.
Impact Scientific outputs are still in progress. This collaboration has led to a range of media attention (see the other sections of the output form). The essence of the collaboration is multi-disciplinary (MOSAiC stands for the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate). While our main scientific contribution is from the field of marine carbonate chemistry, our collaboration included collecting samples and measurements of sea ice and seawater for ecological, biogeochemical, and physical variables.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Interviews for local and regional news 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact A press release was placed through the University of East Anglia on a piece I wrote for their science communications team on my research on CO2 uptake by the Arctic Ocean. This led to a range of media requests for interviews. These included an interview for BBC Radio Norfolk on 08/06/2021 and BBC Look East on 08/06/2020. The Eastern Daily press published an article on another interview on 07/06/2021.
The purpose was to inform the public and create awareness about the CO2 uptake by the Arctic Ocean within the framework of climate change, and to share my experiences in doing field work in this extreme environment, which might inspire young scientists.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021