Determination of the Redfield Remineralization Ratios Based on Neutral Surface Analysis of the New Global Data Set

Investigator(s):

Louis Gordon (PI)

Sponsor:

Oregon State University, OR 97331 5417374933

Start Date/Expiration Date

1999-06-01 to 2003-05-31 (amended 1999-07-23)

Awarded Amount to Date:

$229,949

Abstract: ABSTRACT OCE-9819144 / OCE-9903391 In this study, investigators from Princeton University and Oregon State University will use the new, high-quality nutrient data set obtained during NOAA-OACES and WOCE field studies to refine estimates of the relative amounts of phosphorous, nitrogen, and carbon generated during the decomposition, or remineralization, of marine organic matter - the so-called Redfield Ratio (P:N:C). The Redfield Ratio is not a new concept; in fact, it has been used, and its approximate value has been known, for decades. Ocean scientists have relied on estimates of the Ratio to calculate a values of a variety of unmeasured biogeochemical values from the values of ones that have been measured. Analysis of the high-quality nutrient data sets generated in recent years demands that the Redfield estimate be improved, and this is what this team of investigators intends to do. An optimal multi-parameter technique will also be developed to determine ratio endpoints for application to modeling of biogeochemical data collected during the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) as well as from OACES and WOCE. The technique will be applied to twenty neutral-density layers in each ocean basin to achieve some idea of the global variability as well as a global averaged Redfield value.

NSF Org:

OCE - Division of Ocean Sciences

Award Number:

9903391

Award Instrument:

Standard Grant

Program Manager:

Donald L. Rice
OCE Division of Ocean Sciences
GEO Directorate for Geosciences

NSF Program(s):

BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY, CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

Field Application(s):

Oceanography

Program Reference Code(s):

INTERDISCIPLINARY PROPOSALS, 4444
JOINT GLOBAL OCEAN FLUX STUDY, 1315

Program Element Code(s):

1650
CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY, 1670