RAGNARoCC: Radiatively active gases from the North Atlantic Region and Climate Change
Lead Research Organisation:
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Department Name: Plymouth Marine Lab
Organisations
Publications
Clarke J
(2017)
Characterization of a Time-Domain Dual Lifetime Referencing pCO2 Optode and Deployment as a High-Resolution Underway Sensor across the High Latitude North Atlantic Ocean
in Frontiers in Marine Science
Bakker D
(2014)
An update to the Surface Ocean CO<sub>2</sub> Atlas (SOCAT version 2)
in Earth System Science Data
Bakker D
(2016)
A multi-decade record of high-quality <i>f</i>CO<sub>2</sub> data in version 3 of the Surface Ocean CO<sub>2</sub> Atlas (SOCAT)
in Earth System Science Data
| Description | We have measured the concentrations of Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Nitrous Oxide in seawater. Along with water-vapour, these are the main greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Our work is mapping the regional distribution , uptake and release of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the North Atlantic. A scientific paper has been published describing the increase in surface CO2 (and concomitant acidification) across the Atlantic Ocean over the last 20 years. Further peer-reviewed papers have been published relating to the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas and Global Carbon Budget. |
| Exploitation Route | Data from this project have been used to determine the storage and uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (as well as methane and nitrous oxide) in the North Atlantic Ocean. This is expected to inform governments and policymakers internationally (e.g. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) |
| Sectors | Education,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | A short video was prepared for public engagement (see Engagement Activities). The Global Carbon Budget to which this project has contributed (see Publications) will form the basis for the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment of Greenhouse Gas emissions. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Title | New CRDS instrument for greenhouse gases in seawater |
| Description | A new instrument was developed for the measurement of greenhouse gases (CO2/CH4/N2O) dissolved in seawater. This instrument integrates a cavity ring down spectrometer, showerhead equilibrator and associated electronics, water- and gas-handling hardware and gas standards. The instrument is automated to work in "underway" mode on research vessels. Compared to existing instrumentation, this provides increased sample throughput (data acquisition every 10 seconds compared to hourly) without compromising accuracy and precision. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The instrument provides increased data coverage which facilitates research into the role of the oceans as sources/sinks of greenhouse gases. |
| Title | DY040 CH4/N2O data |
| Description | This dataset relates to measurements of methane and nitrous oxide in seawater and air during research cruise DY040 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These data will contribute to efforts to constrain the oceanic source of methane and nitrous oxide |
| Title | JR302 CH4/N2O data |
| Description | This dataset relates to measurements of methane and nitrous oxide in seawater and air during research cruise JR302 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These data will contribute to efforts to constrain the oceanic source of methane and nitrous oxide |
| Title | JR302 pCO2 data |
| Description | This dataset relates to measurements of carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) in seawater and air during research cruise JR302 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This dataset will contribute to the annual Global Carbon Budget. This is an international project which calculates sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2 on an annual basis (see URL below). |
| URL | http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/ |
| Description | BBC interview (How Northern European waters soak up carbon dioxide) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Jonathan Amos (BBC correspondent) interviewed Dr. J.D. Shutler over phone. he then wrote the BBC article "How Northern European waters soak up carbon dioxide". The article described how the seas around the UK take up atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35654938 |
| Description | EGU 2016 presentation (Kitidis) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | EGU2016-14721 Surface ocean carbon dioxide during the Atlantic Meridional Transect (1995-2013); evidence of change. by Vassilis Kitidis, Ian Brown, Nicholas Hardman-Mountford, and Nathalie Lefèvre |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | EGU 2016 presentation (Rees) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | EGU2016-16991 N2O and CH4 distribution and fluxes in the North Atlantic Ocean by Andy Rees, Ian Brown, Jamie Shutler, and Ian Ashton |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Online media and social media coverage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A press release from the European Space Agency and a related BBC news article resulted in news articles on 11 news websites, 1 blog, 4 twitter feeds and 2 Facebook pages. ESA press release: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-3/Sentinel-3_and_the_ocean_carbon_conundrum BBC news article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35654938 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.altmetric.com/details/4969088#score |
| Description | Public Engagement Video |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This short video was put together in order to explain the role of the oceans in the cycling of greenhouse gases to the wider public. The video was formally presented during a discussion forum at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory and stimulated discussions regarding both the science presented in it as well as means of public engagement. We hope that the video will be used widely in other research institutes/HEI as well as schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuu9_PzSgdI |