Project: Gulf of Mexico NACP-OCB Coastal Synthesis

NACP-OCB Coastal Synthesis: Gulf of Mexico region

The objective of the NACP coastal synthesis activities is to stimulate the synthesis and publication of recent observational and modeling results on carbon cycle fluxes and processes along the North American continental margin, a critical unknown in the North American carbon budget. NACP/OCB researchers have identified the Gulf of Mexico as being one of the regions of special interest for this coastal synthesis activity.

Phase 1. Regional Carbon Budgets

The first phase of the coastal synthesis will be to develop a carbon budget for each region based on a compilation of existing data, which will require literature searches, web searches of databases, etc. Although full community participation is welcome and encouraged, Paula Coble volunteered to lead the Gulf of Mexico Phase 1 synthesis efforts.

Some key elements of the database synthesis are:

• Climatology
• pCO2
• riverine delivery, inc losses and inputs on the way
• rates of processes
• ocean color data and products
• export out of coastal regions
• DIC, PIC, DOC, POC
• Nutrients
• Other fluxes
• model output

plus uncertainty analysis and quality control related to those observations

Phase 2. Community Modeling and Database Development

The second phase of the coastal synthesis will involve community modeling activity to refine the regional carbon budgets.