A multidisciplinary research team at the Department of Marine Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico, is carrying out various programs to assess ocean-climate interactions in the eastern Caribbean Sea.
With support from NASA’s MTPE, we are assessing phenomena affecting upper ocean water in the Eastern Caribbean. Sampling at sea is underway to characterize temporal and spatial variations in the composition, productivity and respiration of planktonic communities, together with physical, chemical and optical variables. These studies are expected to result in a cost-effective means for synoptic, real-time assessment of basin-scale properties through satellite observations of ocean color.
The team is contributing to TASC (Center for Tropical Atmospheric Sciences in Puerto Rico); a consortium of institutions partially funded by NASA by identifying and quantifying marine sources of nitrous oxide to the atmosphere. Current global budgets appear to underestimate the contribution of marine environments. We are quantifying fluxes from coastal and offshore tropical marine environments.
UPR
Marine Sciences Department
1. Caribbean Time Series (CaTS)
We maintain a monthly time series aboard R/V ISLA MAGUEYES at 17º38' N 67º W. We have documented the variability associated with continental riverine intrusions providing evidence of enhancement of biological productivity in an oligotrophic sea.
Fig. 1 CaTS salinity time series (1995-1996)
Figure 2. CaTS Chlorophyll a time series.
2. Orinoco River Plume Expeditions (ORiPEx)
The research group undertakes seasonal cruises across the Caribbean. We have documented enhancement of phytoplankton biomass across the eastern Caribbean basin and north to south shoaling of the phytoplankton maximum covarying with decreased surface salinity. We have also characterized optical properties of seawater across the transect as affected by colored dissolved organic matter.
3. TASC
In Caribbean and Atlantic waters near Puerto Rico, nitrous oxide concentration increases with depth. Fluxes from deep waters along the coast are enhanced by land-sea interactions. Fluxes from mangrove environments are greater and more suceptible to anthropogenic influence.
Data sets include:
1. CTD/Chlorophyll fluorescence
2. Primary productivity
3. Profiling Optical data
4. Remote sensing reflectance
5. Nitrate, Silicate concentration
6. Nitrous oxide concentration and fluxes
For items 1, 4, and 5 contact Dr. Jorge E. Corredor or Prof. Julio M. Morell : quimocea@caribe.net
For item 2 contact Dr. José López: jo_lopez@rumac.upr.clu.edu
For item 3 contact Dr. Roy Armstrong: neptune@caribe.net
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