NASA MODIS image of phytoplankton bloom in the southern Barents Sea, August 14, 2011. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/51765/bloom-in-the-barents-sea

InteRFACE seeks to quantify the controls on and potential future states of marine primary productivity in the Arctic by analyzing ESM outputs to quantify the effects of riverine and coastal fluxes on marine biogeochemistry and developing new benthic capabilities for E3SM.

Schematic of the ocean benthos biogeochemical submodule in E3SM. Left half depicts physical mixing through molecular (D_m) and  bio- (D_b) diffusion of solid (D_b only) and solute (D_b and D_m) tracers. Right half depicts decomposition of particulate organic carbon (POC) and bi-products with oxidants shown in top-down order of  preference. Other important chemical tracers include total alkalinity (TA), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and particulate inorganic carbon (PIC).

Hydrology is used to inform future impacts of biogeochemical and freshwater influence of coastal primary productivity and changes in natural resources.

A trawl catch of the rich benthic fauna on the Arctic shelf at 50 meters depth showing lots of brittle stars, feather stars, and sea cucumbers. Image courtesy of Katrin Iken, University of Alaska Fairbanks. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/16arctic/background/benthos/benthos.html

Leads

RGMA Lead: Georgina Gibson – UAF
ESMD Lead: Nicole Jeffery – LANL
MSD Lead: Olivia Lee – UAF

Research Team

Clara Deal – UAF
Meibing Jin – UAF
Mathew Maltrud – LANL 
Katherine Smith – LANL

US Department of Energy

InteRFACE is a multi-institution project funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science.