Combining satellite and acoustic remote sensing data with a numerical model to characterize the vertical structure of marine ecosystems

Satellite data typically only provide information on the surface of the ocean, limiting the information available for study. CIRES Fellow Kristopher Karnauskas and CIRES research scientist Carrie Wall propose to improve this current measurement ability by merging subsurface water column sonar data and a high-resolution regional model experiment with satellite measurements to spur new insights into the physical drivers of ecological variability in coastal regions. The team's objective is to develop a new framework that characterizes the full three-dimensional structure of coastal marine ecosystems (e.g., the California Current System, CCS, of vital interest to the U.S. national economy), which may enable further investigations of the links between physical forcing and biological response. This work could lead to the creation of a conceptual model for biophysical interactions, as well as demonstrate a new way of applying satellite remote sensing of sea surface properties such as ocean color and oceanic fronts to describe the distribution of plankton in the CCS. This project will strive to improve upon the current state of coupled physical-ecosystem ocean models, while integrating knowledge of the links between marine biology, biogeochemistry, and physical oceanography.