e-book

Biogeochemistry of Marine Systems

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Marine biogeochemistry is a broad, interdisciplinary subject overlapping a range
of other disciplines such as marine chemistry, geochemistry, ecology, physiology
and oceanography, but in its own right it has become pivotal to progress
in marine research in recent years. As a key component of the ‘earth system’,
marine biogeochemistry interfaces directly with terrestrial, atmospheric and
geological sciences. A working definition of the subject might be ‘the processing,
recycling, storage, transport and loss of chemical components within the
marine environment, mediated by biological processes’.

We are said to be leaving the Holocene and entering the ‘Anthropocene’
where mankind’s cumulative impacts have significant and measurable effects on
the biosphere. Biogeochemistry lies at the heart of studies on the functioning
of marine provinces or types – collectively here referred to as ‘systems’ – that
are crucial to understanding and predicting global change and its consequences.
In the context of this great environmental and societal impact, it is the varying
consequences of the same biogeochemical processes operating in marine
systems under different forcing parameters that make biogeochemistry such
a diverse and fascinating field.

Over the past two decades, much has been learned about the biogeochemical
functioning of marine systems from large-scale, multi-partner, international
and national research programmes such as are supported by the International
Geosphere–Biosphere Program (IGBP), Scientific Committee on Ocean Research
(SCOR), Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) and its regional studies, and
Land–Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ). In the UK, the supporting
national programmes were the Biogeochemical Ocean Flux Study
(BOFS) and Land–Ocean Interaction Study (LOIS) programmes. These have
been undertaken typically on ‘process’ research cruises, where the focus has
been on quantifying fluxes of key components (particularly carbon) within the
ocean as well as between the ocean and its boundaries (land, sediments and
atmosphere). Whilst considerable information continues to be derived from
such studies, the expense of such undertakings, together with the relatively low
temporal and spatial coverage offered, has led some biogeochemists to develop
and use new methods of data collection. These include satellite and airborne
remote sensing, benthic landers, autonomous underwater vehicles, and moored
and drifting sensor packages with intelligence. Many of these systems have been
developed for open ocean deployment, but they are also becoming modified
for use in shallow, coastal locations. We can expect to see further developments,
together with new and more robust sensors and increased data collection and
transmission capacity, leading to great improvements in knowledge, operating
in a synoptic fashion (for example, the new ARGO programme of drifting subsurface
floats across the ocean basins).

Modelling has become ubiquitous in biogeochemistry, as in marine science
more generally. Significant computing power is now available for the nesting
of biogeochemical models within physical oceanographic models with high
spatial resolution. Not only does this allow the generalisation of measurements
made at a point in space and time, but it allows assessments and comparisons
of the relative sensitivities of systems to external changes such as are caused,
for example, by increased temperature, deepwater trawling or hydrocarbon
exploration.

This volume provides an overview of recent research on the biogeochemistry
of a diverse range of complex marine systems, each of great importance to the
‘earth system’ but for varying reasons. The systems were chosen to emphasise
different forcing factors, thus offering interesting contrasts. We have been fortunate
that the chapter authors reflect the diversity of academic backgrounds
that typifies biogeochemical research and that they have approached their tasks
from varied perspectives. Thus, the repetition of basic concepts between chapters
is kept to a minimum. The book will be read by researchers and advanced
students of biogeochemistry, who will enjoy the contrasts between the systems
chosen, and by workers in related areas of earth science, who will find that it
provides a useful point of access to the primary literature across a broad range
of marine biogeochemical processes.

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Ketersediaan

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Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

Biological Sciences Series

No. Panggil

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Penerbit

Victoria : Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2003

Deskripsi Fisik

xvi, 372 Hlm.

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

1–84127–327–9

Klasifikasi

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Tipe Isi

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Tipe Media

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Tipe Pembawa

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Edisi

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Subjek

BIOLOGI LAUT

Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

agus

Versi lain/terkait

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