Project: Interannual variability of oxygen and macro-nutrients in the Labrador Sea

NSF abstract:

Recent observations and climate model projections indicate that the global oxygen inventory may be declining due to the lower solubility and the increasing stratification associated with a warming climate. Decomposition of organic matter in the deep sea consumes dissolved oxygen, which must be replenished by the circulation of oxygen-rich waters from the polar regions. Without vigorous oxygen supply from the high latitudes, the global oceans will lose oxygen.

In this study, researchers at Georgia Tech will use a hierarchy of models to simulate oxygen and nutrient cycling in the Labrador Sea, one of the regions of deep water formation in the North Atlantic, over a fifty year period. The Labrador Sea is also a region of extreme seasonality and intense biological productivity, thus oxygen cycling there likely reflects multiple physical and biological processes. Results from this study will promote a better understanding of the interannual variability of oxygen and nutrients in the Labrador Sea, and ultimately contribute to knowledge on how a changing climate impacts these cycles.

Broader Impacts:
The broader impacts of this project include student training, international collaboration and outreach to K-12 students.