LONG-TERMS GOALS

• Main Authors: Hans G. Dam, George B. Mcmanus
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Balch; Nantucket; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1025.8456; http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD%3DADA619740%26Location%3DU2%26doc%3DGetTRDoc.pdf

To determine the mass balance of optically active particles within the surface boundary layer and to identify processes responsible for their redistribution. OBJECTIVES 1) To perform manipulative experiments in which a known quantity of optically active CaCO3 particles are introduced into the surface mixed layer, and tracked over time and space. This approach effectively removes uncertainty in the production term of the mass balance equation. 2) To quantify the loss from the mixed layer of optically active particles due to grazing and aggregation. APPROACH In addition to the work by Dam and McManus, there is close collaboration with Drs. W.M. Balch and C. Pilskaln (Bigelow Lab for Ocean Sciences/Optical and vertical flux studies) and Dr. A. Pluddemann (WHOI / physical studies). Their work is not included in this report. In June 2003, we participated in a 10-day cruise in the Gulf of Maine and the slope waters in the Western North Atlantic Ocean. During the cruise, we participated in the deployment of two chalk patches, one in the Gulf of Maine, and another in a station 120 nm southeast of Nantucket (the