Ocean Science Questions for STM
Version June 25, 2009
GEO-CAPE Ocean Science Questions for STM
1. How do short-term coastal and open ocean processes interact with and
influence larger scale physical, biogeochemical and ecosystem dynamics?
1.1 Measure the short-term (hourly to weekly) variability of chlorophyll a, POC, DOC,
PIC, a(CDOM), a(CDM), a(detritus), a(phytoplankton), S(CDOM), total suspended
matter, photooxidation of CDOM and DOC, phytoplankton biomass, productivity,
physiological fluorescence responses and biodiversity and variables not currently
retrieved from satellites: DIC, terrigenous DOC, other elements, net community
production of DOC, and other associated trophic responses, within coastal and open
ocean regions. Apply these measurements to determine whether coastal ecosystems
are sources or sinks of carbon to the atmosphere.
1.2 Measure the short-term (hourly to weekly) variability of SST, sea surface salinity,
eddies, currents within coastal and open ocean regions.
"parenthetical lists"
biogeochemistry (e.g., cycling, sources, and sinks of carbon and other elements)
Short-term processes (e.g. precipitation, coastal flooding, tides, winds, episodic
freshwater pulses from rivers, equatorial waves, eddies, etc.)
2. How are variations in exchanges across the land-ocean interface related to
changes within the watershed and how do such exchanges influence coastal and
open ocean biogeochemistry and ecosystem dynamics?
2.1 Measure the variability of chlorophyll a, POC, DOC, PIC, a(CDOM), a(CDM),
a(detritus), a(phytoplankton), S(CDOM), total suspended matter, photooxidation of
CDOM and DOC, phytoplankton biomass, productivity, physiological fluorescence
responses and biodiversity and variables not currently retrieved from satellites: DIC,
terrigenous DOC, other elements, net community production of DOC, and other
associated trophic responses, at relevant spatial and temporal scales from rivers to
estuaries to coastal and open ocean regions (and from rivers to lakes) in response to
river discharge, land use change and climate change.
3. How is the coastal ecosystem health influenced by water quality
changes induced by both climate change and anthropogenic activities?
3.1 Measure water quality variables: PAR, Kd490, total suspended matter, chlorophyll
a, a(CDOM) and a(detritus)
3.2 Measure HABs, oil, black carbon & other pollutants
3.3 Measure plant/algal biodiversity, biomass and primary productivity (ecosystem
health)
3.4 Measure secondary productivity and fishery yields (ecosystem health)
4. Do airborne-derived fluxes from episodic events such as fires, dust storms and
volcanoes significantly affect the ecology and biogeochemistry of coastal and
Ocean Science Questions for STM
Version June 25, 2009
open ocean ecosystems?
4.1 Measure the variability in chlorophyll a, POC, DOC, PIC, a(CDOM), a(CDM),
a(detritus), a(phytoplankton), S(CDOM), total suspended matter, photooxidation of
CDOM and DOC, and variables not currently retrieved from satellites: DIC, terrigenous
DOC, black carbon, and other elements in response to airborne-derived fluxes.
4.2 Measure the variability in phytoplankton biomass, productivity, physiological
fluorescence responses and biodiversity, net community production of DOC, and other
associated trophic responses in response to airborne-derived fluxes.
4.3 Measure episodic airborne fluxes of dust, aerosols and trace gases (to be
determined)
5. Policy/Management/Human Dimensions placeholder question
from NASA Ocean Biology & Biogeochemistry Advanced Planning document
OBB1. How are ocean ecosystems and the biodiversity they support influenced by
climate and environmental variability and change, and how will these changes occur
over time?
OBB2. How do carbon and other elements transition between ocean pools and pass
through the Earth System, and how do biogeochemical fluxes impact the ocean and
Earth's climate over time?
OBB3. How (and why) is the diversity and geographical distribution of coastal marine
habitats changing, and what are the implications for the well-being of human society?
OBB4. How do hazards and pollutants impact the hydrography and biology of the
coastal zone? How do they affect us, and can we mitigate their effects?