Correlation between biogenic aerosol and primary production in the Ross Sea

Acronym
BioAPRoS
Code
PNRA16_00065
Anno
2016
Research area
Atmospheric sciences
Specific research topic
Ocean/atmosphere interaction
Region of interest
Terra Nova Bay and Ross Sea
Project website
PI
Silvia Becagli
PI establishment
University of Firenze
Institutional website
https://www.chim.unifi.it/
Other institutions and subjects involved
Consistency of the research team
Project status
Completed
Main stations used
MZS
The project

This project aims to study ocean-atmosphere interactions with a focus on studying the connections between ocean primary production and gas-phase and particulate compounds in the atmosphere having climate activity due to their interaction with solar radiation. To achieve the objectives of the project, for the first time, measurements and sampling carried out simultaneously in the atmosphere (dimethyl sulfide, methanesulfonic acid, sugars, amino acids and methoxyphenols) at Italian base "Mario Zucchelli" (MZS), measurements in the sea (nutrients, chlorophyll and physiological state of phytoplankton) and satellite data were carried out and correlated.

Species concentrations in the atmosphere correlated with phytoplankton activity were correlated with oceanic parameters (chlorophyll and primary productivity), this correlation was interpreted as a function of algal and phytoplankton population (taxonomic composition and physiological status), variations in total and photosynthetic radiation intensity, and to the extent and dynamics of sea ice in the Ross Sea. This area is particularly important for biogenic aerosol production due to the presence of a large area of Polynia that promotes phytoplankton development prior to the melting of the entire sea ice belt around Antarctica.

Understanding and quantifying the correlation between compounds in the atmosphere and oceanic primary productivity (with the consequent effects on 'CO2 uptake from the atmosphere) is of relevant importance in Global Change studies because this interaction is affected, but in turn influences, climate variations.

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    Objectives of the proposal
    Activities carried out and results achieved
    Products

    Pubblicazioni Scientifiche

    Becagli S., E. Barbaro, S. Bonamano, L. Caiazzo, A. di Sarra, M. Feltracco, P. Grigioni, J. Heintzenberg, L. Lazzara, M. Legrand, A. Madonia, M. Marcelli, C. Melillo, D. Meloni, C. Nuccio, G. Pace, K.-T. Park, S. Preunkert, M. Severi, M. Vecchiato, R. Zangrando, and R. Traversi. Factors controlling atmospheric DMS and its oxidation products (MSA and nssSO42-) in the aerosol at Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-195, 2022.

    Presentazioni a congressi nazionali e Internazionali

    Becagli, S. and Traversi, R. and the BioAPRoS Team: Preliminary results on the correlation between biogenic aerosol and primary production in the Ross Sea – (PNRA-BioAPRoS Project), EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-9258, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-9258, 2020.

    Bonamano, S., Madonia, A., De Luca, A., Lazzara, L., Becagli, S., Piermattei, V., and Marcelli, M.: Development and application of Phyto-VFP model (Variable Fluorescence Phytoplankton Production) to estimate primary production in highly vulnerable marine pelagic ecosystems, EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-7438, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-7438, 2020.

     

    Becagli, S., Traversi, R., Severi, M., Caiazzo, L., Lazzara, L., Nuccio, C., Mori, G., Melillo, C., Marinelli E., Frittitta, L., Mannucci, M., Palonelli , F., di Sarra, A.G., Meloni, D., Madonia, A., Bonamano, S., Piermattei, V., Marcelli, M., Terribili, A., Zangrando, R., Vecchiato, M., Barbaro, E., Preunkert, S., Legrand, M., Park, K.-T.,  Risultati preliminari sulla correlazione fra aerosol biogenico e produttività primaria nel mare di Ross (progetto PNRA16-00065_BioAPRoS). PM2020 - Lecce, 14-16 Ottobre 2020.