Navigation Links
Antarctic icebergs help the ocean take up carbon dioxide
Date:5/11/2011

o study life on the undersides of the icebergs.

MBARI engineers, led by Alana Sherman, developed a new robotic instrument that was programmed to sink 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) below the ocean surface while a large iceberg drifted overhead, then rise back to the sea surface after the iceberg had passed. This instrument, called a "Lagrangian sediment trap," was used to collect particles of sediment, bits of dead algae, and other debris that drifted down from the waters under and around the iceberg. This device allowed scientists to measure, for the first time, the amount of organic carbon sinking into the deep sea beneath a large (6-kilometers wide, 35-kilometers long, and 28-meters tall), free-floating iceberg.

The researchers compared the amount of carbon sinking down to 600 meters beneath the iceberg with the amount of carbon sinking in the open ocean nearby. They found that about twice as much carbon sank into the deep sea within a 30-kilometer (18.6-mile) radius of the iceberg, compared with an open-ocean "control" area.

Extrapolating their findings to the rest of the Weddell Sea, the researchers concluded that the icebergs (both large and small) were playing an important role in controlling how much carbon from the atmosphere was taken up by algae and ultimately transported into the deep sea. "The role of icebergs in removing carbon from the atmosphere may have implications for global climate models that need to be further studied," said Smith.

In addition to the direct measurements of material sinking beneath the icebergs, the multidisciplinary research team performed a wide variety of physical, chemical, and biological studies around the icebergs. Many of these studies are detailed in the special issue of Deep-Sea Research. The 19 papers in this special issue describe:

  • New methods and tools for tracking icebergs from a moving ship at sea

  • Water-sampling and video surveys by remotely ope
    '/>"/>

Contact: Kim Fulton-Bennett
kfb@mbari.org
831-775-1835
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Record number of whales, krill found in Antarctic bays
2. Human impacts on the marine ecosystems of Antarctica
3. NOAA scientists find killer whales in Antarctic waters prefer weddell seals over other prey
4. Antarctic icebergs play a previously unknown role in global carbon cycle, climate
5. VIMS team returns to Antarctic Peninsula
6. NSFs Nathaniel B. Palmer sails with Swedens Oden to study Antarctic Peninsula ecosystem
7. Marine animals suggest evidence for a trans-Antarctic seaway
8. First nearshore survey of Antarctic krill reveals high density, stable population in shallow waters
9. Oceanographers call for more ocean observing in Antarctica
10. Pollution dispersion research aids understanding of 2002 break-up of Antarctic ozone hole
11. To the Antarctic or Brazil for new feathers
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Antarctic icebergs help the ocean take up carbon dioxide
(Date:6/18/2013)... Department,s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the ... describing a novel cellulose-degrading enzyme from a marine ... as the gribble. , Gribbles are biologically ... to produce their own enzymes instead of using ... eat. New biomass-degrading enzymes from novel sources such ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... a very large "dead zone" in the Gulf of ... the Chesapeake Bay this year, based on several NOAA-supported ... Michigan, Louisiana State University, and the Louisiana Universities ... Mexico hypoxic "dead" zone will be between 7,286 and ... ten largest recorded. That would range from an area ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... D.C. June 18, 2013 Joshua Obar, Ph.D., ... has been honored with a 2013 ICAAC Young Investigator ... regulation of immunological memory responses to infection. , ... University in 2001 and went on to complete his ... 2006. He performed his Ph.D. thesis research in ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Novel enzyme from tiny gribble could prove a boon for biofuels research 2NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 2NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 3NOAA, partners predict possible record-setting deadzone for Gulf of Mexico 4The American Society for Microbiology honors Joshua Obar 2
... Healthy ecosystems that provide people with essential natural ... biological diversity, underscoring that conserving one also protects the ... Titled Global Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the ... priority for conservation efforts. It shows that more ...
... will receive the 2007 EMBO Installation Grants, assisting them ... Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Turkey. ... since the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) introduced the ... annually and aim to strengthen science in selected member ...
... growth, climate change, high energy prices, globalization, and ... markets, and consumption, according to a new report ... As a result, global food demand and prices ... nutrition of poor people in developing countries. The ...
Cached Biology News:New study finds biodiversity conservation secures ecosystem services for people 2EMBO Installation Grants help 9 scientists set up in Europe 2Rising food prices threaten world's poor people 2Rising food prices threaten world's poor people 3Rising food prices threaten world's poor people 4
(Date:6/19/2013)... June 19, 2013 ... presents Innovative Drug Delivery Systems: ... Licensing Opportunities for Generic Pharmaceutical ... There are more than ... drugs approved all over the ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... 19, 2013 India’s vast and ... potentially be worth up to a billion dollars ... Indian government is taking serious action to better ... , This presentation will examine:, , ...     Immediate and long term impacts , ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... Bellingham, Washington (PRWEB) June 18, 2013 ... on complex materials, costs and other trends will highlight ... in Monterey, California this fall. In its 33rd year, ... and includes an exhibition of key suppliers, approximately 100 ... by SPIE, the international society for optics and ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... 19, 2013 Adding to their already ... stocked with Simport’s Dropette® and Heathrow Scientific disposable ... customer doing basic biology, chemistry and any type of ... For over 35 years, Simport has been supplying the ... products like the Simport Dropette®. Simport’s Dropette® is a ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Innovative Drug Delivery Systems: Novel Product and Formulation Technology Licensing Opportunities for Generic Pharmaceutical Companies 2Innovative Drug Delivery Systems: Novel Product and Formulation Technology Licensing Opportunities for Generic Pharmaceutical Companies 3‘Big Glass’ and Visions for the Future are on the Program for SPIE Photomask Technology 2‘Big Glass’ and Visions for the Future are on the Program for SPIE Photomask Technology 3Leading Pipette Distributor Pipette.com Now Stocks Transfer Pipettes: Simport’s Dropette and Heathrow Scientific Disposable Plastic Transfer Pipettes 2
... 2012  Superior Controls, Inc. has been named "System ... magazine.  Each year, the worldwide competition recognizes the ... expertise, business skills and customer satisfaction. A panel ... from industrial systems integrators throughout the world. 
 ...
...  Healthpoint Biotherapeutics today announced that Travis E. Baugh, President ... President, Strategic and Commercial Development, will present an overview ... pipeline at the upcoming J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The ... am (PST) at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in ...
... WaferGen Biosystems, Inc. (OTCBB:WGBS), an emerging genomic analysis company, ... corporate presentation at the 5 th Annual OneMedForum ... San Francisco, Calif., January 9-12, 2012. The ... 2012 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.  The presentation ...
Cached Biology Technology:Superior Controls of Seabrook, NH Named System Integrator of the Year for 2012 by Control Engineering Magazine 2WaferGen to Present Corporate Overview at 5th Annual OneMedForum San Francisco 2012 2
... is an intelligent full microplate washer with a ... This instrument gives you the best of two ... , Performance ,Separate wash and ... efficiency. A dispense precision of better than 2% ...
... This system uses the Adept CE 4100 ... CE 4200 dual wavelength detector for ... PowerStream data processing software and interface unit, CE ... Windows XP may also be used with Windows ...
...
... separations of DNA larger than 2, ... megabase pairs. This agarose has the highest gel strength of any electrophoresis agarose ... preparation ... ...
Biology Products: