|
RaDiUS Database Project Description (updated Aug. 2005) |
|
|
|
|
|
Short Title: |
BIOCOMPLEXITY:
Collaborative Research: Oceanic N2 fixation and Global climate |
|
Award Number: |
9981662 |
|
RaDiUS ID: |
50083123952 |
|
FY in RaDiUS database: |
2003 |
|
Level 1: |
National
Science Foundation |
|
Level 2: |
Geosciences
(GEO) |
|
Level 3: |
Ocean
sciences (OCE) |
|
Level 4: |
Biological
oceanography |
|
Budget Authority (in $K): |
$40,807K |
|
Total Awards: |
434 |
|
Award Type: |
Extramural/Grants/ |
|
Start Date: |
Jan-2000 |
|
End Date: |
Dec-2004 |
|
Access/Distribution Restriction: |
Distribution
Unlimited - Unrestricted Access |
|
Restriction Reason: |
|
|
CRADA Partner: |
|
|
Place of Performance: |
Stony
Brook |
|
Place of Performance: State: |
NY |
|
Performer Name: |
SUNY -
STONY BROOK |
|
Performer Type: |
EdInst |
|
|
STONY
BROOK |
|
|
NY |
|
Performer Country: |
|
|
Performer Cong. District: |
90 |
|
Performer Contact Name: |
Edward J.
Carpenter |
|
Performer Contact Phone: |
631/632-9949 |
|
Performer Parent: |
|
|
Total Award Amount (in $K): |
$200.0 |
|
Average Annual Funding (in $K): |
$33.3 |
|
Average Monthly Funding (in $K): |
$3.3 |
|
FY Total Amount (in $K): |
|
|
FY Federal Amount (in $K): |
|
|
FY Non-Federal Amount (in $K): |
|
|
SBIR Award: |
N |
|
Clinical Trial: |
N |
|
Requester: |
|
|
Award Description: |
SHORT
DESCR: BIOCOMPLEXITY: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: OCEANIC N2 FIXATION AND GLOBAL CLIMATE :: LONG DESCR: Oceanic nitrogen (N2) fixation has
recently been identified as a significant part of the oceanic nitrogen (N)
cycle and may directly influence the sequestration of atmospheric CO2 in the
oceans by providing a new source of N to the upper water column. The
prokaryotic microorganisms that convert N2 gas to reactive N are an unique
subcomponent of planktonic ecosystems and exhibit a
variety of complex dynamics including the formation of microbial consortia
and symbioses and, at times, massive blooms. Accumulating evidence indicates
that iron (Fe) availability may be a key controlling factor for these planktonic marine diazotrophs.
The primary pathway of Fe delivery to the upper oceans is through dust
deposition. N2 fixers may therefore be directly involved in global feedbacks
with the climate system and these feedbacks may also exhibit complex dynamics
on many different time-scales. The hypothesized feedback mechanisms will have
the following component parts: The rate of N2 fixation in the world's oceans
can have an impact on the concentration of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide
(CO2), in the atmosphere on time-scales of decades (variability in surface
biogeochemistry) to millennia (changes in the total NO3 - stock from the
balance of N2 fixation and denitrification). CO2
concentrations in the atmosphere influence the climate. The climate system,
in turn, can influence the rate of N2 fixation in the oceans by controlling
the supply of Fe on dust and by influencing the stratification of the upper
ocean. Humans also have a direct role in the current manifestation of this
feedback cycle by their influence on dust production, through agriculture at
the margins of deserts, and by our own production of CO2 into the atmosphere.
The circular nature of these influences can lead to a feedback system,
particularly on longer time-scales. This collaborative and interdisciplinary
group of investigators, led by Dr. Anthony Michaels, will study each of the
components of this system and then to model the hypothesized feedback
processes. Because of the interaction of the various parts of this system,
keyed around the unique behavior and biogeochemistry of the prokaryotic
microorganisms that can fix N2, this feedback loop should exhibit complex
behaviors on a variety of time-scales. In this research, we will conduct a
targeted series of experiments and field observations to understand and
parameterize each of the pieces of this global process including the direct
control of marine N2 fixation by dust deposition. This understanding will
then feed a modeling process that examines the complex dynamics of this
system on time-scales of years to millennia. The modeling process will be
evaluated by comparison with data on the time-dependent behavior of ocean
biogeochemistry :: KEYWORDS: Oceanography :: |
|
|
|
|
|
|