Processes Influencing Carbon Cycling: Observations of the Lower limb of the Antarctic Overturning (PICCOLO)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Plymouth
Department Name: Sch of Geog Earth & Environ Sciences
Abstract
The vast, remote seas which surround the continent of Antarctica are collectively known as the Southern Ocean. This region with its severe environment of mountainous seas, winter darkness, strong winds, freezing temperatures and ice is unsurprisingly one of the least explored and under-observed parts of the global ocean. However, because of these extremes, it plays a large and still unquantified role in Earth's climate system. In this region, large amounts of heat and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the atmosphere and the ocean.
The physical mechanisms controlling these atmosphere-ocean exchanges are the subject of the NERC ORCHESTRA programme. We propose within PICCOLO to concentrate on the role that chemistry and biology play within those exchanges. In particular, PICCOLO will focus on understanding the mechanisms that transform the carbon contained in the seawater as it rises to the surface near Antarctica, interacts with the atmosphere, ice, phytoplankton and zooplankton inhabiting the near surface, before descending to the ocean depths.
PICCOLO will undertake an ocean research expedition to the region close to Antarctica, as computer models and satellite images show that these are areas crucial for carbon processes. Freezing seawater in these regions releases salt into the water below, making it denser and therefore causing it to sink. Strong winds cause the sea ice to be pushed away from the Antarctic coastline, leaving areas of open water called polynyas. Within the polynyas the water has enough light during the summer to allow phytoplankton to grow, as well as providing dense waters which sink to the deep, driving a giant ocean conveyor belt which has a large impact upon Earth's climate system.
The PICCOLO team will measure the key variables that control the biological and chemical processes in this region including iron, nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Crucially the team will study the controlling rate terms between different parts of this biological and chemical system. The PICCOLO team will make use of the latest technologies, including autonomous submarines, gliders and floats, to observe these processes in otherwise inaccessible and previously unstudied areas such as under the sea ice. Most ambitiously we will anchor a submarine to the seabed within a polynya and leave it over a winter season to collect data, recovering it the following spring. The PICCOLO team will put instruments on seals which will continuously take data as they dive up and down through the water, sending it back to scientists in real-time via satellite communication links.
This wealth of novel data will be analysed by the PICCOLO team, using state of the art computer models, to test our ideas about how the whole complex set of physical, chemical and biological processes affects carbon. Conceptually we will follow an imaginary parcel of water through the system looking at processes between the atmosphere and ocean, biological processes in the surface layer, exchanges between the upper and lower ocean and the final fate of the carbon.
The PICCOLO hypotheses address the following:
(i) Factors controlling the exchange of carbon dioxide between the ocean and atmosphere and the role of ultra-violet light in controlling the concentration of carbon dioxide in seawater;
(ii) The role of light, iron and nutrients in how carbon is processed by the plankton in the water;
(iii) The mediating processes governing the export of carbon from the upper ocean to depth;
(iv) The processes that take the carbon into the deep ocean on the next stage of its global journey.
The physical mechanisms controlling these atmosphere-ocean exchanges are the subject of the NERC ORCHESTRA programme. We propose within PICCOLO to concentrate on the role that chemistry and biology play within those exchanges. In particular, PICCOLO will focus on understanding the mechanisms that transform the carbon contained in the seawater as it rises to the surface near Antarctica, interacts with the atmosphere, ice, phytoplankton and zooplankton inhabiting the near surface, before descending to the ocean depths.
PICCOLO will undertake an ocean research expedition to the region close to Antarctica, as computer models and satellite images show that these are areas crucial for carbon processes. Freezing seawater in these regions releases salt into the water below, making it denser and therefore causing it to sink. Strong winds cause the sea ice to be pushed away from the Antarctic coastline, leaving areas of open water called polynyas. Within the polynyas the water has enough light during the summer to allow phytoplankton to grow, as well as providing dense waters which sink to the deep, driving a giant ocean conveyor belt which has a large impact upon Earth's climate system.
The PICCOLO team will measure the key variables that control the biological and chemical processes in this region including iron, nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Crucially the team will study the controlling rate terms between different parts of this biological and chemical system. The PICCOLO team will make use of the latest technologies, including autonomous submarines, gliders and floats, to observe these processes in otherwise inaccessible and previously unstudied areas such as under the sea ice. Most ambitiously we will anchor a submarine to the seabed within a polynya and leave it over a winter season to collect data, recovering it the following spring. The PICCOLO team will put instruments on seals which will continuously take data as they dive up and down through the water, sending it back to scientists in real-time via satellite communication links.
This wealth of novel data will be analysed by the PICCOLO team, using state of the art computer models, to test our ideas about how the whole complex set of physical, chemical and biological processes affects carbon. Conceptually we will follow an imaginary parcel of water through the system looking at processes between the atmosphere and ocean, biological processes in the surface layer, exchanges between the upper and lower ocean and the final fate of the carbon.
The PICCOLO hypotheses address the following:
(i) Factors controlling the exchange of carbon dioxide between the ocean and atmosphere and the role of ultra-violet light in controlling the concentration of carbon dioxide in seawater;
(ii) The role of light, iron and nutrients in how carbon is processed by the plankton in the water;
(iii) The mediating processes governing the export of carbon from the upper ocean to depth;
(iv) The processes that take the carbon into the deep ocean on the next stage of its global journey.
Planned Impact
Here we summarise the non-academic communities who will benefit from this research project and how they will benefit. Please see the Pathways to Impact attachment for the activities we plan in PICCOLO in order to achieve this impact.
The main beneficiaries of data and knowledge from PICCOLO are:
i) Stakeholders and high level users of the Global Carbon Budget analysis will benefit through an improved product with PICCOLO biogeochemical observations being available for model evaluation and quantification of the ocean carbon sink via high-profile data synthesis products, such as the Global Ocean Data Analysis Project (GLODAP) and the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (www.socat.info).
ii) The global earth system modelling community, and the users of such models such as governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), will benefit from the mechanistic understanding of carbon uptake processes in the Southern Ocean that PICCOLO will deliver, together with the roadmap for representing such processes in Earth system models. This will deliver a step-change in the quality of the projections undertaken by such models. The Hadley Centre at the UK Met Office will gain insight from PICCOLO, and we will work with them to assess the various NEMO-based models. The results of the project will aid the eventual parameterisation of carbon cycling processes for use in earth system models. The major results of PICCOLO will inform government policy with regard to the uncertainties in sea level rise predictions.
iii) Operational forecasters at global weather/climate services (such as the UK Met Office) and global navies will have free access to the near-real time (within hours of surfacing) temperature and salinity profiles from the Argo floats, gliders and seal tags, for assimilation into their operational forecast models. This will also benefit users of ocean reanalysis products that assimilate the PICCOLO profiles, since our targeted observational campaign location is a data desert.
iv) Those designing the global ocean (and climate) observing systems will benefit from PICCOLO. Our novel observational techniques will allow us to feed into the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) design in order to design effective long-term measuring systems in the most useful locations. We will engage with the SOOS community through the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR).
v) The western and central Weddell Sea is very poorly sampled compared with the rest of this sector and the size of the krill stocks within it will be of interest to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The krill fishery in the Southwest Atlantic sector has expanded and there is a clear need for better understanding of the spatial scale of the exploited stocks. ICED (Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics) is an international multidisciplinary regional programme within the SCOR/Future Earth sponsored IMBER (Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research) project, launched to develop integrated circumpolar analyses of Southern Ocean climate and ecosystem dynamics.
vi) PICCOLO will nurture and train early career scientists, giving them skills to equip them for a productive independent career and to meet national skills shortages.
vii) The general public and young people in particular will gain from PICCOLO outreach. We aim to interest more young people in science and in higher education, raise awareness of global change and polar processes, and attract more people to careers in scientific research. We will target deprived areas such as Great Yarmouth in Norfolk and Plymouth in Devon, where young people's aspirations and achievements are below the national average and where inspiration into education may make a difference.
The main beneficiaries of data and knowledge from PICCOLO are:
i) Stakeholders and high level users of the Global Carbon Budget analysis will benefit through an improved product with PICCOLO biogeochemical observations being available for model evaluation and quantification of the ocean carbon sink via high-profile data synthesis products, such as the Global Ocean Data Analysis Project (GLODAP) and the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (www.socat.info).
ii) The global earth system modelling community, and the users of such models such as governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), will benefit from the mechanistic understanding of carbon uptake processes in the Southern Ocean that PICCOLO will deliver, together with the roadmap for representing such processes in Earth system models. This will deliver a step-change in the quality of the projections undertaken by such models. The Hadley Centre at the UK Met Office will gain insight from PICCOLO, and we will work with them to assess the various NEMO-based models. The results of the project will aid the eventual parameterisation of carbon cycling processes for use in earth system models. The major results of PICCOLO will inform government policy with regard to the uncertainties in sea level rise predictions.
iii) Operational forecasters at global weather/climate services (such as the UK Met Office) and global navies will have free access to the near-real time (within hours of surfacing) temperature and salinity profiles from the Argo floats, gliders and seal tags, for assimilation into their operational forecast models. This will also benefit users of ocean reanalysis products that assimilate the PICCOLO profiles, since our targeted observational campaign location is a data desert.
iv) Those designing the global ocean (and climate) observing systems will benefit from PICCOLO. Our novel observational techniques will allow us to feed into the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) design in order to design effective long-term measuring systems in the most useful locations. We will engage with the SOOS community through the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR).
v) The western and central Weddell Sea is very poorly sampled compared with the rest of this sector and the size of the krill stocks within it will be of interest to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The krill fishery in the Southwest Atlantic sector has expanded and there is a clear need for better understanding of the spatial scale of the exploited stocks. ICED (Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics) is an international multidisciplinary regional programme within the SCOR/Future Earth sponsored IMBER (Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research) project, launched to develop integrated circumpolar analyses of Southern Ocean climate and ecosystem dynamics.
vi) PICCOLO will nurture and train early career scientists, giving them skills to equip them for a productive independent career and to meet national skills shortages.
vii) The general public and young people in particular will gain from PICCOLO outreach. We aim to interest more young people in science and in higher education, raise awareness of global change and polar processes, and attract more people to careers in scientific research. We will target deprived areas such as Great Yarmouth in Norfolk and Plymouth in Devon, where young people's aspirations and achievements are below the national average and where inspiration into education may make a difference.
Organisations
- University of Plymouth (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE (Collaboration)
- PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY (Collaboration)
- University of St Andrews (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA (Collaboration)
- Natural Environment Research Council (Collaboration)
- British Antarctic Survey (Collaboration)
Publications

Birchill AJ
(2019)
The eastern extent of seasonal iron limitation in the high latitude North Atlantic Ocean.
in Scientific reports

Cavan EL
(2019)
The importance of Antarctic krill in biogeochemical cycles.
in Nature communications

Chen X
(2023)
Physical and biogeochemical controls on seasonal iron, manganese, and cobalt distributions in Northeast Atlantic shelf seas
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta


Longman J
(2022)
Organic carbon burial with reactive iron across global environments

Longman J
(2022)
Organic Carbon Burial With Reactive Iron Across Global Environments
in Global Biogeochemical Cycles

Ratnarajah L
(2023)
Monitoring and modelling marine zooplankton in a changing climate
in Nature Communications

Rusiecka D
(2018)
Anthropogenic Signatures of Lead in the Northeast Atlantic
in Geophysical Research Letters

Schmidt K
(2020)
Increasing picocyanobacteria success in shelf waters contributes to long-term food web degradation.
in Global change biology
Description | The trace metal and radium isotope sampling of water column (0-4000m), sediment traps, ice cores and snow samples during the PICCOLO science cruise onboard the Sir David Attenborough research vessel (Jan-Mar 2024) We achieved a full vertical transect from the open ocean east of the peninsula onto the shelf and then a grid of stations on the shelf on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula as far south as the Larson Ice shelf. This was the first biogeochemical study of this region and preliminary dissolved iron analysis has indicated significant flux of Fe from sediment and glacial sources supported by radium isotopes which appears to cause addition of iron as water moves on and then off the shelf. Incubation experiments with resident phytoplankton following iron and manganese additions showed clear responses indicating Fe limitation of certain species indicating an ecological control of food webs by trace metal supply tot he surface waters. Further analysis of other key trace metals (Mn, Cu, Zn etc.) will be conducted at Plymouth and Leeds labs which will reveal more. The first polar research trials cruise was successfully completed (Feb 2022) on board the Sir David Attenborough research vessel. Members of this team collected trace metal samples, trialled new equipment and laboratories and assisted with new deployments providing provisionary data and preparations for the main delayed PICCOLO research cruise in 2024. |
Exploitation Route | New Southern Ocean chemical data for oceanographic databases and technical knowledge |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Environment |
URL | https://roses.ac.uk/piccolo/about-piccolo/ |
Description | At this early stage findings and cruise observations have been reported back to media, schools, university and institution networks and public through blogs and considerable social media (e.g. twitter/X) and radio/tv interviews. |
First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
Sector | Education,Environment |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | Novel sensor networks: from catchment to deep sea |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Meeting organised by S Ussher at the Univeristy of Plymouth provided a forum leading to ongoing discussions and connections between technology companies, charities, policy makers. |
URL | https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/research-festival/2022-novel-sensors |
Description | TRACE metal SAMplers and sensORS workgroup |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Workgoup initiated and ongoing discussions, collaborationa and meetings to improve the monitoring of marine environment by development of new sensor technology for marine micronutrients |
URL | https://tracesamors.sciencesconf.org/ |
Description | Assessing the bioavailability of iron in southeast Pacific seawater to phytoplankton using iron uptake rates |
Amount | £8,778 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/V009877/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | ARIES PhD Studentship for Isobel Turnbull |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Drs Milne and Ussher put forward a studentship proposal which was accepted and funded by NERC'S ARIES Doctoral Training Partnership. This studentship was initially linked to the PICCOLO project, which is currently delayed, and therefore a research plan for CUSTARD was put together to facilitate Isobel's participation in CUSTARD and the necessary equipment sourced. |
Collaborator Contribution | Isobel has greatly contributed to this partnership and collected novel samples for analysis. The results from these samples could add a new dimension to the overall initial objectives of CUSTARD by providing additional information concerning iron biogeochemical cycling. |
Impact | The studentship is a multidisciplinary research collaboration involving both chemistry and biology (microbial ecology). |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Collaboration with British Antarctic Survey |
Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Working alongside team in the PICCOLO project planning Weddell Sea research in ROSES programme and Orchestra National Capabilities work (NERC). |
Collaborator Contribution | Field work support and hosting of dissemination/meetings |
Impact | None at present (March 2018). |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Collaboration with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (RoSES) |
Organisation | Plymouth Marine Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Shared technical resources, co-supervision of postgraduate students and researchers, dissemination of data and ideas |
Collaborator Contribution | Shared technical resources, co-supervision of postgraduate students and researchers, dissemination of data and ideas |
Impact | None yet due to project delay. Multidisciplinary: marine biology, air/sea exchange, physical oceanography, biogeochemistry |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Collaboration with University of East Anglia |
Organisation | University of East Anglia |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Field campaigns, sharing of technical resources, meetings, dissemination of data and findings, discussions and publications |
Collaborator Contribution | Overall management of research project, field campaigns, sharing of technical resources, meetings, dissemination of data and findings, discussions and publications |
Impact | Project delayed due to logistics and pandemic so no major outcomes yet other than those detailed in the report here. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Dr Luke Bridgestock Lecturer in Terrestrial Environmental Earth Science, University of St Andrews |
Organisation | University of St Andrews |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Sample collection, processing and strategy for PICCOLO Antarctic cruise (Jan-March 2024) |
Collaborator Contribution | Smaple analyis and interpretation/dissemination |
Impact | None yet |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | NERC DTP Student palcement on PICCOLO - Chiara Krewer (University of Leeds) |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Department | School of Earth and Environment |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We supported the student training and qualification in the Personal Sea Survival techniques necessary to participate in polar marine research. We provided the travel, logistics, and a fully supported berth aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough during the PICCOLO expedition SD035 from Jan11th to March 12th 2024. We provided training in new sampling and analytical techniques for trace elements and isotopes (including Ti and ssCDT rossette, and underway surface ocean towed fish sampling, for the trace metal, and radio-isotope sampling and analyses by Radium Delayed Coincidence Counting Systems). We provided further training and experience in sea ice coring, and sub-sea ice sampling for trace elements and nutrient biochemistry. and provided ship-based seminars from a variety of nutrient cycling-related modern oceanographic perspectives and specialisms. |
Collaborator Contribution | Chiara Krewer (University of Leeds) suspended her NERC funded DTP research in ancient nutrient cycling to develop interests in modern marine nutrient cycling. She participated as a researcher in the Royal Research Ship Sir Daviid Attenborough expedition SD035 to the Weddell Sea, where she formed new collaborative networks; supported the fieldwork sampling and shipboard analyses of ocean trace elements and isotopes for the PICCOLO project; provided her own expertise in field, and laboratory and data management practices; contributed to field survey design for oxygen isotope sampling, and shared her own insights into nutrient cycles over long timescales for the wider benefit PICCOLO scientists. |
Impact | None yet - the activities described above are still underway in the Weddell Sea. |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Prof Raja Ganeshram Chair of Geochemistry University of Edinburgh |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | School of Geosciences Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collection of samples and strategy for isotope sampling througout PICCOLO cruise (Jan-March 2024) |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing sample bottles and isotope analysis |
Impact | Sample set to be delivered to Edinburgh |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | University of Plymouth with the National Oceanography Centre and University of Southampton |
Organisation | National Oceanography Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Networking time/meetings, manuscript and proposal writing, dissemination and discussion of data, sharing of laboratory and fieldwork resources |
Collaborator Contribution | Meetings and networking that have lead to other project ideas, ongoing publications and sharing of resources. |
Impact | Academic and societal outputs are listed in the reporting for the associated grants. They have the collaborating institutes listed |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | AMBIO Special Interest Group Meeting of Challenger Society - Ussher |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 20 minute talk entitled "Pathways and timescales of Southern Ocean hydrothermal iron and manganese transport" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Advances_in_Marine_Biogeochemistry |
Description | Antarctic PICCOLO cruise blog entries and twitter feeds (Jan-March 2024) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Blog posted for public interest dissemianted through PICCOLO university and institute networks |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://roses.ac.uk/2024/03/01/without-a-trace-looking-for-metals-and-isotopes-in-the-weddell-sea/ |
Description | Article in ECO magazine - published and online |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A collaboration between University of Plymouth with the Antarctic Quest 21 was formed to sample surface snow across the Antarctic Peninsula leading to an article in ECO magazine. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | http://digital.ecomagazine.com/publication/frame.php?i=707374&p=104&pn=&ver=html5 |
Description | BBC Look North - a live link TV interview from the RRS SDA in Antarctica 30/01/2024 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I linked regional prime-time TV audiences with research staff and students at the University of Leeds, while we transited along the Antarctic Peninsula. I explained why the cold seas around Antarctica matter for absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, and why we need to study the processes controlling Carbon cycling in this region of the ocean to predict Earth's response to humanity's carbon dioxide emissions. I described our expedition plan and the benefit of national facilities that we'll be using, such as the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, as well as how it feels to conduct research in the Weddell Sea region of Antarctica. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | BBC Look North TV studio interview 9/01/2024 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I introduced the planned research of staff and students at the University of Leeds in Antarctica. I explained why the cold seas around Antarctica matter for absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, and why we need to study the processes controlling Carbon cycling in this region of the ocean to predict Earth's response to humanity's carbon dioxide emissions. I described our expedition plan and the benefit of national facilities that we'll be using, such as the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, as well as how it feels to conduct research in the Weddell Sea region of Antarctica. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Challenger Society Conference Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Neil Wyatt. Research dissemination "Phytoplankton responses to dust addition in the Fe(Mn) co-limited Eastern Pacific sub-Antarctic differ by source region." |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/science-events/the-challenger-society-conference-2022-in-london.ht... |
Description | Challenger Society Meeting presentation - Schmidt |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Researcher Katrin Schmidt gave an oral presentation entitled "Do ice algae fuel the lipid pump in the central Arctic Ocean?" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Challenger_conference_2022 |
Description | ITV Calendar News - a live-linked broadcast TV interview from the RRS SDA in Antarctica 25/01/2-24 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I live-linked audiences to research by staff and students at the University of Leeds, while we transited along the Antarctic Peninsiula. I explained why the cold seas around Antarctica matter for absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, and why we need to study the processes controlling Carbon cycling in this region of the ocean to predict Earth's response to humanity's carbon dioxide emissions. I described our expedition plan and the benefit of national facilities that we'll be using, such as the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, as well as how it feels to conduct research in the Weddell Sea region of Antarctica. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Lead of national workshop (Novel Sensor Networks, Plymouth 2022) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This event opens dialogue between academia and industry partners to share knowledge and foster collaborations between technology users and creators. A showcase of the current cutting-edge developments in marine and environmental intelligence technology - including sensors, platforms, data modelling and networks - leads into a forward-looking session outlining the potential opportunities in developing and improving this technology, with discussion on how to overcome them. Those attending in person will have the opportunity to browse stands featuring technology and relevant projects from the University and partner organisations, including West Country Rivers Trust, Clearwater Sensors and SmartSound with Plymouth Marine Laboratory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
URL | https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/research-festival/2022-novel-sensors |
Description | Online Marine Chemistry Seminar - World Oceans Day (June 2021) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Online morning seminar as part of a day of talks from the University of Plymouth to celebrate World Oceans Day. Simon Ussher delivered a talk entitled "Feeding the food chain in the modern ocean - importance of nutrients and ocean chemistry" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/outreach/world-oceans-day-schools-conference-2021 |
Description | Online blog for collaborative Antarctic exploration project (Antarctic Quest 21) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Online blog to reach and inspire public and students for collaborative Antarctic exploration project (Antarctic Quest 21) . The University of Plymouth team have offered sampling gear, methods and analysis of trace elements in snow samples Antarctic snow samples: the data and findings will contribute to RoSES projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | http://www.antarcticquest21.com/sampling-metals-in-the-snow-pack/ |
Description | Oral Presentation at a research institute - Antony Birchill |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation titled 'Seasonal iron depletion in a temperate shelf sea' to publicise the findings from the Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry Project. This was given as part of the Marine Biogeochemistry Division seminar series at Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (GEOMAR), Kiel. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Oral Presentation at the Challenger Research Conference - Katrin Schmidt |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This oral presentation titled '2018 'Departing from Redfield: Case scenarios in the Southern Ocean and North Atlantic' was given at the Challenger Research Conference to publicise the new findings from the Shelf Sea Biogeochmistry Programme. A discussion between fellow academics arose from the presentation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://conferences.ncl.ac.uk/challenger-2018/programme/ |
Description | Participation in EU meeting in UNESCO headquarterrs on Global Ocean Observation (First International AtlantOS Symposium 25-28 March 2019 at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Participation in discussion of the future of international efforts for ocean observation in the Atlantic Ocean |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.atlantos-h2020.eu/first-international-atlantos-symposium/ |
Description | Radio interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Impacts of COVID-19 on the Marine Environment- Interview on BBC Radio Devon (7th May 2020, Radio interview with Richard Thompson)dio |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | RoSES and ENCORE Annual Science Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk and participation in the The Role of the Southern Ocean in the Earth System programme Annual Science Meeting |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://roses.ac.uk/ |
Description | RoSES programme wrap-up meeting (July 2023) - Ussher |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | National programme wrap-up meeting to report on outcomes, further synthesis and dissemination. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Seminar for University of Plymouth (SoGEES, March 2022) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 1 hour seminar given on NERC RoSES project work to School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences - online, recorded and live audience (Simon Ussher 16th March 2022) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | TRACEAMORS Working group meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | TRACESAMORS (TRACE metal SAMplers and sensORS) workshop in Septemeber 2022 was the start of a new international workgroup with organisers Agathe Laes, Simon Ussher, Max Grande and Andy Bowie and Matthieu Waeles. The aim to provide opportunity to promote multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research to instigate a much needed step change in the monitoring of trace metal dynamics in the marine environment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://tracesamors.sciencesconf.org/ |