Turbulent breath: Observing the interplay of upper ocean fine structure and oxygen variability with autonomous ocean gliders (PALMERUNOC18NEX)

Ocean-atmosphere gas exchange is important for global climate and oceanic ecosystems. Oxygen concentrations in surface waters are directly influenced by air-sea exchange and the transfer of oxygen to deeper layers has an important role in ventilating our oceans to maintain healthy and productive seas. Regions where ocean oxygen levels are depleted to potentially unhealthy levels are growing globally, caused by changing temperatures, nutrient supply and atmospheric forcing. This has possibly dangerous implications for marine ecosystems and the potential to change global carbon cycles.

Many of the physical and biogeochemical mechanisms that regulate air-sea transfer of gases are determined by turbulent mixing, which is chaotic and difficult to measure. Developments using autonomous ocean gliders provide improved capability in resolving fine-scale ocean structure and turbulence up to the sea surface that has the potential to enhance our understanding of gas exchange.
Data for this project comes from ocean sites including the Celtic Sea, Porcupine Abyssal Plain and the mid-Atlantic. The student will collect additional data in the framework of the NERC AlterEco project (North Sea). Each dataset provides measurements of near surface finescale and microscale temperature and velocity by autonomous underwater gliders that allow quantification of turbulent mixing in the near surface layer and upper ocean thermocline. Combining meteorological and surface measurements from autonomous Wavegliders and ship data, this studentship will investigate the links between variable meteorological and ocean forcing on air-sea gas transfer.
The student will process and analyse turbulence and other physical and biogeochemical data collected by state-of-the-art autonomous ocean vehicles, and develop expertise in air-sea gas transfer mechanisms and parameterisations. Combining this new dataset with models of the ocean surface mixed layer and meteorological data, the student will then develop an improved understanding of how changing weather, waves and ocean conditions impact on oxygen uptake to address the key question:
How will future climate impact on the turbulent transfer of oxygen and other gases between ocean and atmosphere?

Training
The NEXUSS CDT provides state-of-the-art, highly experiential training in the application and development of cutting-edge Smart and Autonomous Observing Systems for the environmental sciences, alongside comprehensive personal and professional development. There will be extensive opportunities for students to expand their multi-disciplinary outlook through interactions with a wide network of academic, research and industrial / government / policy partners. The student will be registered at the University of East Anglia, and hosted at the NOC in Liverpool. Specific training includes:
• Data processing and analysis techniques relating to a wide range of ocean measurements including ocean microstructure (turbulence), gliders, ADCP and CTD.
• Understanding of air-sea gas transfer mechanisms and parameterisations.
• Development of ocean surface boundary layer models including coupling of atmosphere and oceans and gas-transfer.

Secondary supervisors: Prof. Jan Kaiser (UEA), Prof. Mark Inall (SAMS).

For further information, please visit www.enveast.ac.uk/nexuss

For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go here: http://noc.ac.uk/about-us/staff/rolm
Type of programme: PhD
Start date of project: October 2018
Mode of study: Full time or part time
Length of studentship: 3 years, 8 months

Acceptable first degree: Any numerate discipline, Chemistry, Mathematics, Oceanography or Marine Science, or Physics.

Minimum entry requirement: 2:1 or equivalent.