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-045-L/P
NSF/OPP Award 1440435

Program Manager:
Dr. Karla Heidelberg

ASC POC/Implementer:
Samina Ouda / Bruce Felix / Jamee Johnson

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Hugh William Ducklow
hducklow@ldeo.columbia.edu
Columbia University
Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory
Palisades, New York

Location

Supporting Stations: ARSV Laurence M. Gould, Palmer Station
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

Microbial Biogeochemistry Component: The annual LTER cruise on the ARSV Laurence M. Gould will consist of eight days of transit time; three days of cargo/science operations; one day NSF/NOAA personnel transfer; a visit to Rothera Station (UK), and thirty days of LTER science operations. While at sea, the C-045-L team will conduct repeated sampling with the conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) rosette and with nets at historical LTER grid stations. They will recover and redeploy moored sediment traps. At Palmer Station, researchers will deploy water-column profiling and sampling instruments, using both rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and Zodiac boats. They will incubate their seawater samples in the environmental room and will also conduct work in the radioisotope laboratory.

Deploying Team Members