http://hdl.handle.net/2122/146 2013-05-25T02:52:35Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/5744 Title: Modelling approach to the assessment of biogenic fluxes at a selected Ross Sea site, Antarctica Authors: Vichi, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Coluccelli, A.; UniPoliMa; Ravaioli, F.; CNR-ISMAR; Giglio, F.; CNR-ISMAR; Langone, L.; CNR-ISMAR; Azzaro, M.; CNR-IAMC; Azzaro, F.; CNR-IAMC; La Ferla, R.; CNR-IAMC; Catalano, G.; CNR-ISMAR; Cozzi, S.; CNR-ISMAR Abstract: Several biogeochemical data have been collected in the last 10 years of Italian activity in Antarctica (ABIOCLEAR, ROSSMIZE, BIOSESO-I/II). A comprehensive 1-D biogeochemical model was implemented as a tool to link observations with processes and to investigate the mechanisms that regulate the flux of biogenic material through the water column. The model is ideally located at station B (175° E–74° S) and was set up to reproduce the seasonal cycle of phytoplankton and organic matter fluxes as forced by the dominant water column physics over the period 1990–2001. Austral spring-summer bloom conditions are assessed by comparing simulated nutrient drawdown, primary production rates, bacterial respiration and biomass with the available observations. The simulated biogenic fluxes of carbon, nitrogen and silica have been compared with the fluxes derived from sediment traps data. The model reproduces the observed magnitude of the biogenic fluxes, especially those found in the bottom sediment trap, but the peaks are markedly delayed in time. Sensitivity experiments have shown that the characterization of detritus, the choice of the sinking velocity and the degradation rates are crucial for the timing and magnitude of the vertical fluxes. An increase of velocity leads to a shift towards observation but also to an overestimation of the deposition flux which can be counteracted by higher bacterial remineralization rates. Model results suggest that the timing of the observed fluxes depends first and foremost on the timing of surface production and on a combination of size-distribution and quality of the autochtonous biogenic material. It is hypothesized that the bottom sediment trap collects material originated from the rapid sinking of freshly-produced particles and also from the previous year's production period. 2008-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/5743 Title: An enhanced sea-ice thermodynamic model applied to the Baltic sea Authors: Tedesco, L.; CMCC; Vichi, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Haapala, J.; Finnish Institute of Marine Research; Stipa, T.; Finnish Institute of Marine Research Abstract: A refined Semtner 0-layer sea-ice model (ESIM1) is presented and applied to the Baltic landfast sea-ice. The physical model is capable of simulating seasonal changes of snow and ice thickness. Particular attention is paid to reproducing the snow-ice and the super-imposed-ice formation which play important roles in the total mass balance of the Baltic sea-ice. The model prognostic variables include all kinds of ice and snow layers that may be present during a Baltic landfast ice season and, in general, in every coastal area of an ice-covered ocean. The assessment of the model capabilities was done for 1979–1993 for four different stations in the Baltic Sea. A sensitivity test stresses the relevant role of some of the physical parameters, such as the oceanic heat flux, while a scenario analysis highlights the robustness of the model to perturbed physical forcing. Our results show that one of the key variables in modelling sea-ice thermodynamics is the snow layer and its metamorphism, and including the meteoric ice dynamics into a sea ice model is relevant to properly simulate any ice season, also in view of climate change scenarios 2009-02-26T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/4529 Title: An enhanced sea-ice thermodynamic model applied to the Baltic Sea Authors: Tedesco, L.; Centro Euro Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici; Vichi, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Haapala, J.; Finnish Institute of Marine Research; Stipa, T.; Finnish Institute of Marine Research Abstract: A refined Semtner 0-layer sea-ice model (ESIM1) is presented and applied to the Baltic landfast sea-ice. The physical model is capable of simulating seasonal changes of snow and ice thickness. Particular attention is paid to reproducing the snow-ice and the super-imposed-ice formation which play important roles in the total mass balance of the Baltic sea-ice. The model prognostic variables include all kinds of ice and snow layers that may be present during a Baltic landfast ice season and, in general, in every coastal area of an ice-covered ocean. The assessment of the model capabilities was done for 1979–1993 for four different stations in the Baltic Sea. A sensitivity test stresses the relevant role of some of the physical parameters, such as the oceanic heat flux, while a scenario analysis highlights the robustness of the model to perturbed physical forcing. Our results show that one of the key variables in modelling sea-ice thermodynamics is the snow layer and its metamorphism, and including the meteoric ice dynamics into a sea ice model is relevant to properly simulate any ice season, also in view of climate change scenarios 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/3751 Title: Historical behaviour of Dome C and Talos Dome (East Antarctica) as investigated by snow accumulation and ice velocity measurements Authors: Urbini, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Frezzotti, M.; enea casaccia; Gandolfi, S.; università di bologna; Vincent, C.; LGGE Grenoble; Scarchilli, C.; enea casaccia; Vittuari, V.; università di bologna; Fily, M.; LGGE Grenoble Abstract: Ice divide–dome behaviour is used for ice sheet mass balance studies and interpretation of ice core records. In order to characterize the historical behaviour (last 400 yr) of Dome C and Talos Dome (East Antarctica), ice velocities have been measured since 1996 using a GPS system, and the palaeo-spatial variability of snow accumulation has been surveyed using snow radar and firn cores. The snow accumulation distribution of both domes indicates distributions of accumulation that are non-symmetrical in relation to dome morphology. Changes in spatial distributions have been observed over the last few centuries, with a decrease in snow accumulation gradient along the wind direction at Talos Dome and a counter-clockwise rotation of accumulation distribution in the northern part of Dome C. Observations at Dome C reveal a significant increase in accumulation since the 1950s, which could correlate to altered snow accumulation patterns due to changes in snowfall trajectory. Snow accumulation mechanisms are different at the two domes: a wind-driven snow accumulation process operates at Talos Dome, whereas snowfall trajectory direction is the main factor at Dome C. Repeated GPS measurements made at Talos Dome have highlighted changes in ice velocity, with a deceleration in the NE portion, acceleration in the SW portion and migration of dome summit, which are apparently correlated with changes in accumulation distribution. The observed behaviour in accumulation and velocity indicates that even the most remote areas of East Antarctica have changed from a decadal to secular scale. 2008-01-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/3453 Title: Modelling approach to the assessment of biogenic fluxes at a selected Ross Sea site, Antarctica Authors: Vichi, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Coluccelli, A.; UNIVPM, Italy; Ravaioli, M.; CNR-ISMAR; Giglio, F.; CNR-ISMAR; Langone, L.; CNR-ISMAR; Azzaro, M.; CNR-IAMC; Azzaro, F.; CNR-IAMC; La Ferla, R.; CNR-IAMC; Cozzi, S.; CNR-ISMAR; Catalano, G.; CNR-ISMAR Abstract: Abstract Several biogeochemical data have been collected in the last 10 years of Italian activity in Antarctica (ABIOCLEAR, ROSSMIZE, BIOSESO-I/II). A comprehensive 1-D biogeochemical model was implemented as a tool to link observations with processes and to investigate the mechanisms that regulate the flux of biogenic material through the water column. The model is ideally located at station B (175^{o}E - 74^{o}S) and was set up to reproduce the seasonal cycle of phytoplankton and organic matter fluxes as forced by the dominant water column physics over the period 1990-2001. Austral spring-summer bloom conditions are assessed by comparing simulated nutrient drawdown, primary production rates, bacterial respiration and biomass with the available observations. The simulated biogenic fluxes of carbon, nitrogen and silica have been compared with the fluxes derived from sediment traps data. The model reproduces quite well the magnitude of the biogenic fluxes, expecially those observed in the bottom sediment trap, but the peaks are delayed in time. Sensitivity experiments have shown that the characterization of detritus, the choice of the sinking velocity and the degradation rates are crucial for the timing and magnitude of the vertical fluxes. An increase of velocity leads to a shift towards observation but also to an overestimation of the deposition flux which can be counteracted by higher bacterial remineralization rates. Model results suggest that observed fluxes could be explained by the size-distribution and quality of the locally-produced biogenic material. It is hypothesized that the bottom sediment trap collects material originated from rapid sinking of particles and also from previous years production periods, likely modulated by advective and aggregation mechanisms which are still not resolved by the model. 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/3435 Title: Development of a numerical model of sea ice for biogeochemical studies. Part 1: Sea-ice thermodynamics Authors: Tedesco, L.; CMCC; Vichi, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Haapala, J.; Finnish Institute of Marine Research, Helsinki, Finland; Stipa, T.; Finnish Institute of Marine Research, Helsinki, Finland Abstract: A fully prognostic 1-D thermodynamic model, functional for studies of sea-ice biogeochemistry is developed to better understand the physical processes and the interactions between the environment and the sea-ice ecosystem. The physical model is capable of simulating seasonal changes of snow and ice thickness. Particular attention is paid to reproduce the snow-ice and the superimposed ice formation which play important roles in the dynamics of sea ice algae. The assessment of the model capabilities is done in 1979--1993 at four different stations in the Baltic Sea. A sensitivity analysis stresses the importance of adequate surface forcing functions to properly simulate the onset of sea ice. Our results show that thickness of the ice layers and timing of the melting are in good agreement with the observed data and confirm that one of the key variables in modelling sea-ice thermodynamics is the snow layer and its metamorphism. 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/978 Title: Influence of the North Atlantic on simulated atmospheric variability Authors: Conil, S.; Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France; Li, Z. X.; Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France Abstract: An atmospheric general circulation model is used to investigate the influence of the North Atlantic Ocean on atmospheric variability. The study covers the period from 1950 to 1994. The observed sea surface temperature and sea ice extension are used to force the atmospheric model. Several configurations of the oceanic boundary conditions were made to isolate the role of the North Atlantic and to study its non-linear interaction with forcings from other oceanic basins. The multi-realization character of the experiments distinguishes between the internal random part and the external forced part of the total variability. The potential predictability can thus be evaluated. The response of the atmosphere is also studied with a modal approach in terms of hemispheric teleconnection patterns. The North Atlantic Ocean has a direct influence on both the Northern Hemisphere annular mode and the Pacific-North-America pattern, leading to a weak predictability. However the direct response is largely modulated by forcings from other oceanic basins. The non-linearity of the system compensates the predictable component of the annular mode induced by the North Atlantic forcing. Furthermore it reduces the forced component of the Pacific-North-America pattern, increasing its chaoticity. 2002-12-31T23:00:00Z