CAREER_PHYTO_Edu2

The overarching goal of this project is to understand phytoplankton dynamics, community composition and NCP to examine carbon dynamics on a continental shelf. The US Southeastern continental shelf of South Atlantic Bight (SAB) can be viewed as a model system providing new insights on ocean optics, biogeochemistry, carbon dynamics that are applicable to other continental shelves. This study will represent the first high-resolution large-scale investigation of the phytoplankton community composition, carbon dynamics and net community production variability in optically complex waters. This proposal will enhance the NSF educational goals by developing hands-on trainings (for educators, early career scientists, and undergraduates) that hinge on the shared-use nature of data and instrumentation. The requested cruise time will allow us to collect a large amount of biogeochemical data at times and locations for which we do not have as much information, filling in gaps, while also providing an opportunity for the participants in the two proposed trainings to gain hands-on experience collecting oceanographic data and learning how to use and interpret data from NSF shared use instrumentation that will be taught in the trainings