The problem: The global oceans are absorbing one third of the fossil fuel emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), thus, strongly reducing the rate of climate change (1). Understanding the processes controlling oceanic CO2 uptake and how these may change in the future is therefore essential. The formation of intermediate and deep water masses plays an important role in removing ‘anthropogenic’ carbon from the atmosphere (2). In the Southern Ocean, newly formed intermediate water transports large amounts of anthropogenic carbon to the deep ocean, whilst uptake of anthropogenic carbon by bottom water remains unclear (3, 4, 5). The research: Measurements of inorganic carbon parameters and transient tracers have been made on deep sections in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean over the past two to three decades. This PhD project aims to quantify natural and anthropogenic carbon transport across some of these sections, its long-term variation, and the role of intermediate and deep waters. The student will place these results in the context of physical processes and the overturning circulation of the Southern Ocean. The PhD student will use chemical analyses, data analysis, carbon synthesis products (GLODAP, CARINA), and modelling. He/she will greatly benefit from (inter-)national collaborations. Requirements, training and opportunities: We seek an enthusiastic, pro-active team player with strong scientific interests and self-motivation. She/he will have at least a 2.1 honours degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics, computing, or a branch of environmental science. Good numerical ability and experience in chemical analysis are an advantage. He/she will participate in at least one oceanographic cruise in the Southern Ocean, subject a successful BAS medical and sea survival course, and will spend several weeks per year working at BAS. The student will be enrolled in the UEA Science Graduate School. The candidate will acquire transferable skills, while participating in research of global significance.
Additional supervisors: Mike Meredith, Hugh Venables (British Antarctic Survey - BAS)
Applications are processed as soon as they are received, so early application is encouraged. NB applicants who wish to start their studies in October 2012 should submit their application by 31 July 2012. Applications received after this date will be considered for the January 2013 entry point if the project is still available.
Funding Notes:
Self funded applicants only.
References:
1) Denman, K.L., G. Brasseur, A. Chidthaisong, P. Ciais, P.M. Cox, R.E. Dickinson, D. Hauglustaine, C. Heinze, E. Holland, D. Jacob, U. Lohman, S. Ramachandran, P.L. da Silva Dias, S.C. Wofsy and X. Zhang (2007) Couplings between changes in the climate system and biogeochemistry. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change. Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
2) Brown, P.J., Bakker, D.C.E., Schuster, U., Watson, A.J. (2010). Anthropogenic carbon accumulation in the subtropical North Atlantic. Journal of Geophysical Research 115. C04016. doi:10.1029/2008JC005043.
3) Hauck, J., Hoppema, M. Bellerby, R.G.J., Völker, C., Wolf-Gladrow, D. (2010) Data-based estimation of anthropogenic carbon and acidification in the Weddell Sea on a decadal time scale. Journal of Geophysical Research 115, C03004, 14pp. doi:10.1029/2009JC005479.
4) Monaco, C. Lo, N. Metzl, A. Poisson, C. Brunet, B. Schauer (2005) Anthropogenic CO2 in the Southern Ocean: Distribution and inventory at the Indian-Atlantic boundary (World Ocean Circulation Experiment line I6). Journal of Geophysical Research 110, C06010, 1-18.
5) Sabine, C.L., R.A. Feely, N. Gruber, R.M. Key, K. Lee, J.L. Bullister, R. Wanninkhof, C.S. Wong, D.W.R. Wallace, B. Tilbrook, F.J. Millero, T.H. Peng, A. Kozyr, T. Ono A.F. Rios (2004) The oceanic sink for anthropogenic CO2. Science 305: 367-371