The oceans play an important role in regulating the Earth's climate, not only through their well recognized role as a reservoir and transport medium for moisture and heat, but also as a major dynamic reservoir for climatically sensitive gases such as carbon dioxide. Interactions between physical, biological and chemical processes are important to understand in order to examine the exchange of physical and chemical quantities between the atmosphere and the deep oceans. The goal of this project is to develop, test and modify an integrated physical-biological- carbon dioxide ocean model in an effort to simulate and evaluate interactions controlling the exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and ocean in the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean is of particular importance because it represents one of two regions in the world where significant deep water comes in contact with the atmosphere, allowing direct exchange of gases where substantial quantities of surface water downwell to aphotic depths while still containing high concentrations of unutilized nutrients at the Antarctic Polar Front. The potential utilization of excess nutrients by phytoplankton may have a substantial impact on carbon dioxide flux. The large seasonal variability within the physical, biological, and chemical system leads to an extreme range in the rate and direction of exchange with atmosphere and consequently, it is not clear whether this region is one of net uptake or release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Results from this modelling effort will prove important to advancing oceanographic research in the Southern Ocean.
