by Ria Olivier | Jul 29, 2022 | Antarctica, Current Event, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
A CSIR-SOCCO – DFFE-Oceans & Coasts partnership
Team CO2-HEAT (L-R): Bubele Rasmeni, Siyabulela Hamnca and Baxolele Mdokwana.
| TEAM | CO2-HEAT |
| Project Name | Contemporary and Future Drivers of CO2 and Heat in the Southern Ocean |
| Principal Investigator | Sarah Nicholson | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) |
| Co-Principal Investigator | Pedro Monteiro | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research |
| Co-Principal Investigator | Sebastiaan Swart | University of Gothenburg |
Onboard CO2-HEAT team members:
| Team Member | Role | Affiliation |
| Siyabulela Hamnca | Onboard Team Leader | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research |
| Baxolele Mdokwana | Technician | Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) |
| Bubele Rasmeni | Technician | Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment |
Contemporary and Future Drivers of CO2 and Heat in the Southern Ocean
The contemporary Southern Ocean mitigates the effects of anthropogenic climate change through its disproportional uptake of carbon and heat. However, it is not well understood how this role will evolve under different emission and mitigation scenarios. The Southern Ocean also remains the largest source of global ocean uncertainty in the global estimates of CO2 and heat fluxes. While much has been achieved globally and regionally in constraining the variability and some of the mechanisms that drive Southern Ocean CO2 and heat fluxes separately, we propose that a significant part of the challenge lies in the lack of research on CO2 and heat together to better understand the feedback and the mechanisms that drive those feedbacks.
This SANAP-NRF project aims to examine the changing role of the Southern Ocean in global climate by looking at the two main drivers CO2 and heat, in an integrated way using an unprecedented 10-year high resolution glider dataset from the 2012-2022 SOSCEx experiments, prognostic biogeochemical models, and new observational experiments planned in partnership with CSIR and DFFE as well as the SO-CHIC EU H2020 project. This collaboration is undertaken as part of the emerging National Ocean CO2 Facility, a research infrastructure integration between CSIR and DFFE within SAPRI and hosted at DFFE.
We aim to gain a better understanding of how the interaction of atmospheric synoptic cycles (storms) and fine-scale (0.1-100 km) ocean processes influence seasonal-decadal variability of CO2 and heat fluxes. This will include the extent to which they feedback on each other and ultimately contribute to a better understanding of the role of the Southern Ocean in the global carbon-climate system.
The expected three outcomes are:
- Improved observational constraints for the contemporary seasonal-interannual variability of CO2 and heat fluxes.
- Understanding of how storms and their interaction with fine-scale dynamics influence the seasonal and interannual variability of CO2 and heat fluxes.
- Identify the potential mechanisms that could explain the decadal anomaly in CO2 fluxes at the end of the 20th century.
Winter cruise sampling:
The SCALE Winter-2022 cruise provides an important opportunity to address a key source of uncertainty in annual Southern Ocean CO2 and heat observations – the dearth of winter time observations. While the lack of winter observations has been improved by the recent proliferation of SOCCOM floats, ship-based observations remain highly valuable as an independent and direct measurement of CO2 and importantly include heat flux observations. On the SCALE Winter-2022 cruise, the CO2-Heat team will be sampling profiles of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and Total Alkalinity. The underway pCO2 system will also be operated during the cruise. Simultaneously, the heat flux sensors are in continuous operation measuring the short and long-wave radiation on minute time-scales. In addition, as part of SO-CHIC, two Saildrones will overlap with the ship sampling path for calibration of measured CO2 and heat flux. The Saildrones will remain in the Southern Ocean sampling heat and CO2 fluxes for the remainder of winter. These key winter observations will be contrasted to the previous summer observations made during the dedicated SO-CHIC cruise in January 2022.
Dr Siyabulela Hamnca in action during SCALE-WIN22.
For more information visit:
Text supplied by Sarah Nicholson (PI).
Featured image supplied by Kurt Martin (SAPRI trainee).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 29 July 2022.
by Ria Olivier | Jul 28, 2022 | Antarctica, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, STEM
(L-R): Girish Rameshan, Nyasha Mafumo, Thato Mtshali (Team Leader of team FE), Oliver Mogase, Benjamin Abraham, Mayibongwe Buthelezi (front).
| TEAM | MICROBIOME |
| Project | Enhanced insights regarding the ecology, evolution and function of marine microbiomes |
| Principal Investigator | Thulani Makhalanyane | University of Pretoria |
Onboard team members:
| Team Member | Role | Affiliation |
| Oliver Mogase | Onboard Team Leader | UP |
| Mayibongwe Buthelezi | PhD | UP |
| Girish Rameshan | Postdoc | UP |
| Nyasha Mafumo | MSc | UP |
| Benjamin Abraham | PhD | UP |
The project description as per the sailing orders for the SCALE Winter Cruise of 2022:
By undertaking a temporal and seasonal evaluation of Southern Ocean (SO) microbiomes, we aim to provide insights regarding the diversity and function of their microbiomes. Taking advantage of current scheduled cruises and cruises of opportunity, we plan to explore key questions related to the selective forces shaping biogeographic distributions in the SO. We will explore microbial interactions using meta-omics analyses. Using the sequence data generated from our taxonomic and functional analysis of microbes in the SO we aim to provide insights regarding the ecology of geographically proximal marine waters.
We will use these data as a tool to understand microbial responses to environmental changes and their biochemical outcomes. To understand the effects of nutrients (trace elements) in shaping SO microbiomes, we will conduct a series of complementary experiments aimed at using a combination of coordinated sampling and ship-based co-limitation experiments. These studies will provide insights regarding the selective pressures shaping biogeographic and temporal distributions in the Southern Ocean. Understanding the adaptive responses of microbiomes, on the genome level, will allow us to predict the potential impacts of climate mediated changes on ecosystem services. Both these components are done in collaboration with the EU-H2020 project AtlantECO.
The MICROBIOME team set some time aside to explain their field of research to the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) trainees:
Follow the MICROBIOME team on Twitter!
Images supplied by Kurt Martin (SAPRI trainee).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 28 July 2022.
by Ria Olivier | Jul 27, 2022 | Antarctica, Current Event, Oceanography, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, STEM
N-Cycle team onboard the S.A. Agulhas II. Back (left to right) Letizia Tedesco, Christina Monteiro, Brishan Kalyan, Nkateko Maholobela, Mhlangabezi Mdutyana, Aldean Esau; (front) Lumi Haraguchi, Sizwekazi Yapi, Sadiyah Rawat, Amelia Deary, Venecia van Balla.
| TEAM | N-CYCLE |
| Project name | Nitrogen cycle in the Southern Ocean |
| Principal Investigator 1 | Sarah Fawcett | University of Cape Town (UCT) |
| Principal Investigator 2 | David Walker | Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) |
Onboard N-CYCLE team members:
| Team Member | Role | Affiliation |
| Mhlangabezi Mdutyana | Team Leader | UCT
|
| Amelia Deary | MSc | UCT
|
| Sizwekazi Yapi | MSc | UCT
|
| Christina Monteiro | Honours | UCT
|
| Sadiyah Rawat | Honours | UCT
|
| Lumi Haraguchi | Postdoc | SYKE, Finland
|
| Aldean Esau | Honours | CPUT |
| Venecia van Balla | Honours | CPUT |
| Nkateko Maholobela | Honours | CPUT |
| Brishan Kalyan | MSc | NMU
|
| Letizia Tedesco | Researcher | SYKE, Finland |
The project description as per the sailing orders for the SCALE Winter Cruise of 2022:
Thirty years ago, John Martin proposed that the high nitrate concentrations left unconsumed in Southern Ocean (SO) surface waters result from iron-limitation of phytoplankton growth. Extensive culture and (CPUT) fieldwork has since confirmed the central role of iron in photosynthesis and nitrate assimilation. Because of the implications for CO2, most studies of coupled iron and nitrogen (N) cycling have focused on nitrate assimilation, with little attention paid to the role of iron in mixed-layer N (re-)cycling. Our preliminary data suggest that iron availability exerts a strong control on N regeneration; if verified, this has implications for our mechanistic understanding of the N cycle, now and in the future when the iron supply to the surface SO is predicted to rise.
On this cruise, we plan to interrogate the role of iron in the upper SO N cycle at high resolution through extensive iron amendment experiments. We will also examine the composition and functioning of the associated planktonic (auto-, mixo- and heterotrophic) community. Diverse aspects of Southern Ocean physics and chemistry are already experiencing climate-induced changes; a major motivation for this work is to develop expectations for Southern Ocean fertility and ecology in response to such changes. This work is also relevant for the nutrient supply to the low-latitude ocean, which is controlled by both the extent of nutrient uptake in Southern Ocean surface waters and the ratios in which these nutrients are consumed; the latter is strongly affected by iron availability and plankton species composition.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology students, under the supervision of Dr David Walker, will be investigating chlorophyll-a concentrations and phytoplankton assemblages at all the CTD and process stations, as well as in ice core samples.
Follow Dr Fawcett on Twitter and check out the Marine Biogeochemistry Lab website (links below).
Text and images supplied by the N-Cycle team and Kurt Martin (SAPRI Trainee)
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 27 July 2022.
by Ria Olivier | Jul 27, 2022 | Antarctica, Current Event, Engineering, Research, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, STEM
Vessel 4.0 team photo in marginal ice zone. In the photo (left to right): Christof van Zijl, Nicole Taylor, Marek Muchow and Markus Gilges.
| TEAM | VESSEL 4.0 |
| Project name | The Digital SA Agulhas II – Flagship for Vessel 4.0 |
| Principal Investigator | Annie Bekker | Stellenbosch University |
Onboard team members:
| Team Member | Role | Affiliation |
| Nicole Taylor | PhD
Onboard Team Leader | Stellenbosch University |
| Marek Muchow | PhD | Aalto University (Finland) |
| Christof van Zijl | PhD | Stellenbosch University |
| Markus Gilges | PhD | RWTH Aachen University (Germany) |
More about the team and the project:
Nicole and Christof of the Sound and Vibration Research Group of Stellenbosch University, in collaboration with Markus of the HealthProp consortium and Marek of Aalto University, comprise the Vessel 4.0 team. The aim of Team Vessel 4.0 is to investigate the responses of the S.A. Agulhas II as she travels through open water and sea ice during SCALE Winter Cruise 2022.
The S.A. Agulhas II is instrumented with a multitude of sensors, like accelerometers and strain gauges. These sensors function like an internal nervous system, enabling the Vessel 4.0 team to “sense” each vibration and motion of the ship as she breaks through waves and sea ice. So far, the S.A. Agulhas II has had to endure repeated “belly-flops” as she slams into incoming waves (see image below), as well as noteworthy rolling and pitching motions as she climbs and descends large swells on her journey through the Southern Ocean.
The S.A. Agulhas II in a bow slam while in the marginal ice zone (MIZ). Photo Credit: Nicole Taylor.
The team is particularly interested in studying the loads that the ice and waves cause to the hull and propulsion system of the ship. They perform engineering analyses of measurements from the hull and propulsion system to understand how intensively the Southern Ocean and its sea ice require the S.A. Agulhas II to work while navigating through winter conditions. In the image below (left), Markus is shown monitoring his measurement system located in the shaft line.
Additionally, the team is performing visual observations of the sea and ice state around the S.A. Agulhas II throughout the time of the cruise. It helps to record details about the environment that the ship encounters so that the team members have a clearer picture of what the installed nervous system is sensing. Team members spend hours being the “eyes” of the nervous system, writing down metrics like what the wave height and the direction of the main wave train is when in open water, or, when in ice, how thick the ice is and what type of ice the ship is breaking through. Christof is shown seated in the bridge while recording the sea ice conditions in the image above (right). The ice observations are done 24/7 while they are in the marginal ice zone with spotlights on during the night.
The team also uses other instruments, like cameras and lasers, to take measurements and snapshots of the ship’s environment. These really help when working through the measurements and visual observations back in the office after the cruise to understand what happened on board. In the image below Marek, Nicole and Christof are shown in the process of installing an ice thickness measurement system at the bow of the ship.
Ice thickness measurement system installation. In the photo (l-r): Nicole Taylor, Marek Muchow and Christof van Zijl. Photo credit: Kurt Martin.
Along with carefully studying the ship and the environment she interacts with, the team has recruited passengers to participate in their human response research to better understand how people experience living and working on board. During Winter Cruise, the team has distributed custom-developed human-centric software in conjunction with more traditional questionnaires. Through the Mariner 4.0 mobile application and daily diary booklets, participants are equipped to record their daily perception of vibration, noise and motion that may cause them discomfort or illness. The Mariner 4.0 application enables real-time data capturing and analysis on board that has a greater aim to support monitoring and managing of human activities. For example, this could be used to assist with planning research on board and navigation decisions to maximize the time during which researchers are estimated to be the least motion sick and able to work well.
Read more about the research that Team Vessel 4.0 team members are part of:
Text supplied by Team Vessel 4.0
Featured images supplied by Kurt Martin (SAPRI trainee)
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 27 July 2022
by Ria Olivier | Jul 26, 2022 | Announcement, Antarctica, SCAR, Science, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
SCAR Open Science Conference takes place from 27 July and this includes the Business Meetings on 27-29 July 2022, the conference from 1-5 August, and the delegates meeting on 5- 7 September.
The SCAR Open Science Conference, established 20 years ago, has in many ways become the premier activity of SCAR that supports its mission to promote and facilitate international Antarctic and Southern Ocean science. These biennial meetings have become fertile ground for the exchange of the latest and highest profile Antarctic research outcomes and a place where future collaborations are born. The biennial SCAR meetings are an opportunity for subsidiary groups to meet and conduct their business. For some groups this provides the time to develop and produce reports for the Delegates Meeting which follows the open science conference.
XXXVII SCAR DELEGATES MEETING takes place from 5- 7 September and the South African delegates are Prof Bettine van Vuuren (Chair of South African National Committee for SCAR) and Tracy Klarenbeek (director: NRF – Knowledge Advancement and Support)
Under SCAR’s Articles of Association, the Meeting of the Delegates may create subsidiary bodies to undertake certain aspects of the business of SCAR. Specified Subsidiary Bodies are:
We wish all successful business meetings and conference participation.
Follow us on Twitter for announcements of presentations and sessions.
Text compiled from the official SCAR2022 website.
Ria Olivier, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 26 July 2022
