BMWSB: Development of a web-based tool for
modeling marine biogeochemical cycles
Arne Winguth, Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
1225 W. Dayton St.
Madison WI, 53705, USA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1-608-265-8477
Fax:+1-608-262-4874
http://drake.aos.wisc.edu/~winguth/
WUN partner institutions and collaborators:
University of Southampton; Southampton Oceanographic Center; Dr. T. Tyrell
University of Bergen, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research; Prof. C. Heinze
SeaWiFS Chlorophyll October 2004. Source: NASA DAAC
Proposed start and end dates of the project: 01/01/2005-12/31/2005
Total proposed expenses of the project: $15,000
Background: The marine global carbon cycle is an important component of the
climate system influencing the uptake, storage, and release of atmospheric CO2
on a seasonal to multi-millennial scale. The downward flux of carbon into the
abyssal zone is controlled by the export of carbon form the surface layer of the
ocean that receives enough light to support photosynthesis, the euphotic zone.
In the euphotic zone primary production of organic matter by phytoplankton
depends essentially on light, temperature, vertical mixing, supply of nutrients
(nitrogen, phosphorous, and silica) and trace metals (e.g. iron and zinc), and its
variation is influenced by fluctuations in the ocean circulation and climate
variability. Satellites show us that plankton blooms develop simultaneously over
a wide area (see cover sheet). Remote sensing of plankton species and
combining these data with biogeochemical models allows us to estimate the
individual biogeochemical importance of the plankton species. In this project we
will develop a web tool for educational and research purposes to study the
sensitivity carbon fluxes to various model parameterizations. Web-based
modeling tools have been successfully used for educational purposes in earth
sciences.
Objectives:
1. Deepen international collaborations within the WUN partnerships by
developing an educational web tool for earth science classes of the WUN
network.
2. Promote understanding of processes in the marine carbon cycle by the use of
state-of-the-art biogeochemical models.
3. Applying lecture material from the WUN Horizons in Earth System series for
the class room.
Linkages to WUN Partners and Educational Benefits:
The proposed project “Biogeochemical Model web tools from Universities of
Wisconsin, Southampton and Bergen”, BMWSB, is designed to be a pilot
project between three WUN partners the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Dr.
Arne Winguth, PI), the University of Southampton (Dr. Toby Tyrell), and the
University of Bergen (Dr. Christoph Heinze).
All three collaborators from these institutions have an expertise in a) prognostic
modeling of the marine carbon cycle, b) quantification of the global carbon
cycle, and c) understanding feedbacks between the climate and the
biogeochemical cycles. A summary of publication and envolvement carbon
cycle projects funded by NASA, NSF, EU and other funding agencies (see home
pages for details:
http://drake.aos.wisc.edu/~winguth/Research/Research1.html;
http://www.soes.soton.ac.uk/information/staff_directory/index.php?link=tt.html;
http://www.bjerknes.uib.no/contacts/homepages/CH_personal.htm)
Focus will be initially given on studies associated with the nutrient cycle (see
WUN talk given by Dr. Tyrell), specifically the impact of nutrient co-limitations on
the particle flux of carbon into the deep sea. The studies of the web tool will be
designed to strengthen the understanding of important biogeochemical
processes for undergraduate and graduate classes in oceanography and to
enhance a collaborative engagement of other WUN institutions through the
project. The web tool could be particularly beneficial for large undergraduate
classes (like “Survey of Oceanography” AOS105 at the UW Madison; ~70
students). Also, educational research presentations in schools will be
coordinated with Rosalyn Pertzborn, Director of the Office of Space Science
Education (OSSE). The OSSE is engaged in community programs, teacher
development programs in earth and space science, K-12 student programs and
science museum programs in partnership with state and national collaborations.
Technical Approach:
The basic concept for the web-based tool is a use of a hierarchy of carbon
model, which can be applied, depending on the prerequisites for undergraduate
or graduate course. The University of Southampton has developed Matlabbased ocean carbon cycle models. The models are simple box models, which
are an excellent tool to understand major processes in the marine carbon cycle.
They are a complimentary tool to the more highly-resolved models from the
University of Wisconsin and University of Bergen. Sensitive parameterizations
from the box models can be tested for more detailed studies in the highly
resolved dynamical models. We also plan to add a graphical user interface (GUI)
to the box models, which can also be done within the Matlab software package.
These will be very easy to use and make an excellent teaching tool. The carbon
cycle models run on local Apple G5 computers. A graphical interface can be set
up by the Common Gateway Interface, or CGI, which is a standard for external
gateway programs to interface with information servers such as HTTP servers
(see eg. http://hoohoo.ncsa.uiuc.edu/cgi/overview.html). Such an application
has been used for example in the web based atmospheric radiation code of the
Geoscience
Department
of
University
of
Chicago
(http://geosci.uchicago.edu/~archer/cgimodels/radiation.html; Dr. Archer) or a
webtool for climate models at the University of Berlin (http://wekuw.met.fuberlin.de/WEKUW/web/index.php; Dr. Cubasch). The student can choose
different parameterizations (for example different half saturation coefficients for
nutrients), run the model, and gives a model output. Instructors from the class
can answers specific question by email, by FAQ pages, or by direct
correspondence with the student.
Other sources of funding and the capacity to raise extramural funds for the
project:
The PI is coordinator of a NASA carbon cycle project NAG 5-11245 ($346,000).
Resources from the NASA project can be match-funded towards the goal of this
proposed project. Also, proposals to the NSF and NASA are pending and may
provide an additional resource for match-funding. In addition, the University of
Southampton and the University of Bergen have sufficient funding resources for
intramural match (see e.g. web pages above for details).
Budget Summary:
7 month Project Assistant (33%):
Fringe benefits Project Assistant (25%):
Total Salary and Fringe Benefits:
5,984
1,496
_____
7,480
Tuition Remission (25%)
1,496
Subcontract U. of Southampton
4,024
Travel (International):
2,000
______
15,000
TOTAL BUDGET