Project Title

Palmer, Antarctica Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): Land-shelf-ocean connectivity, ecosystem resilience and transformation in a sea-ice influenced pelagic ecosystem

Summary

Event Number:
C-021-L
NSF/OPP Award 1440435

Program Manager:
Dr. Karla Heidelberg

ASC POC/Implementer:
Samina Ouda / Bruce Felix

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Doug Martinson
dgm@ldeo.columbia.edu
Columbia University
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Palisades, New York

Location

Supporting Stations: ARSV Laurence M. Gould
Research Locations: Palmer Station and Western Antarctic Peninsula

Description

Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (PAL-LTER) started in 1990 to address the hypothesis that the annual sea ice cycle may be the major determinant of spatial/temporal changes in the structure and function of Antarctic marine communities. Research now includes bacteria, viruses, phytoplankton, krill, macrozooplankton, penguins, seabirds, and marine mammals. The PAL-LTER model traces the effects of changing climate and the extent, duration, and seasonality of sea ice on ecosystem composition and dynamics in the Western Antarctic Peninsula, where satellite observations over the past 35 years indicate the average duration of sea ice cover is now about 90 days shorter. Six collaborative projects on the ARSV Laurence M. Gould cruise and at Palmer Station will use moorings, numerical modeling, oceanographic cruises, and environmental sampling to address core hypotheses.

Field Season Overview

Physical Oceanography Component: During the annual LTER cruise to the LTER research grid aboard the ARSV Laurence M. Gould, support contractor vessel marine technicians will deploy and recover up to four moorings for this project. They will also make about 50 conductivity-temperature- depth (CTD) casts to full depth, in collaboration with C-019-L (Schofield) and C-045-L (Ducklow).