SIBER SPIS sept 2011.pdf - IMBER

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SIBER Science Plan and Implementation Strategy SIBER is a fusion of IMBER and IOGOOS with specific focus on major IO research questions. It is important to emphasize that SIBER embraces the complementary IOGOOS and IMBER goals of developing a monitoring and predictive capacity for detecting and predicting ocean responses to accelerating global change and consequent effects on the Earth System and human society. It is also important to emphasize that informed decisions require an understanding of which parts of the Earth System are most sensitive to change, and the nature and extent of anticipated impacts. This requirement is a major motivation for SIBER, i.e. there is evidence to suggest that the IO is particularly sensitive to global change, yet it is one of the most poorly understood basins in terms of its physical, biogeochemical and ecological dynamics. G L O B A L O C E A N O B S E R V I N G S Y S T E M F O R I N D I A N O C E A N IMBER IOGOOS SIBER SIBER Fi g u r e 7 Schematic diagram showing the relationship between SIBER and the two international projects that will provide oversight and guidance. 16
SIBER Science Plan and Implementation Strategy Scientific th e m e s SIBER is structuring its research around six scientific themes, each focusing on a specific set of issues that need to be addressed in order to improve understanding of the biogeochemical and ecological dynamics of the IO and develop a predictive capability. These themes can be broadly separated into three that are regionally focused (Themes 1-3) and three that address wider scientific questions (Themes 4-6). Re g i o n a l scientific t h e m e s Th e m e 1: Bo u n d a r y c u r r e n t d y n a m i cs, i n t e r a c t i o ns a n d i m p a c ts How are marine biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem processes in the IO influenced by boundary current dynamics Ba c k g r o u n d Boundary currents mediate the transfer of global and regional forcings to local coastal scales. In this process, they fundamentally alter biogeochemical fluxes and ecosystem processes. One major mechanism is the generation of mesoscale eddies by boundary currents, which in turn impinge on coastal regions with profound impacts. In the IO, several boundary current systems are seasonally reversing (e.g. the Somali Current (SC), West (WICC) and East (EICC) India Coastal Currents, and the Java Current (JC), Fig. 2). These reversing surface currents are unique to monsoon-driven systems. The southern currents (Agulhas and Leeuwin) both flow poleward throughout the year (Fi gs. 2, 8 a n d 9). The Leeuwin Current (LC) is particularly anomalous in that it is the world’s only major eastern boundary current that flows poleward. The LC is driven by the ITF (Fi gs. 2 a n d 8), which is a complex set of pathways that connect the IO with the eastern Pacific (Domingues et al., 2007; McCreary et al., 2007). In general, the biogeochemistry and ecology of southern hemisphere currents have been less comprehensively studied than their northern counterparts and significant uncertainties still exist regarding their dynamics and interactions. The primary mechanisms whereby boundary currents impact ecosystems include control of local water temperature, nutrient supply and mixed-layer depth. Impacts are influenced by the intermediate water masses that feed boundary currents and therefore, determine their physical and chemical properties. Boundary currents also mediate alongshore and cross-shelf transport of whole planktonic ecosystems, including early growth stages of commercially important finfish and shellfish species. Flow instabilities are commonly observed in boundary currents. They can be initiated through interaction with shelf topography or develop spontaneously in deeper waters. These instabilities give rise to mesoscale eddies, localized fronts or filaments, all of which can mediate cross-shelf transport of nutrients and plankton communities. These features can also form important aggregation points that promote larval recruitment and draw fish and megafauna to regions of enhanced nutrients, plankton and food supply. Biological variability in boundary current systems is driven by remote (e.g. propagation of coastally trapped or open ocean Rossby waves) and local (e.g. coastal sea breezes by diurnal land warming) forcings. It is important to disentangle the relative impacts of these forcing mechanisms in future studies, particularly those aimed at assessing impacts of climate variability and climate change on IO biogeochemistry and ecology. Since boundary current systems are dynamic and complex, remote sensing and modeling are crucial investigative 17
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