BIPREX

From APLIS07

BIologically mediated PRocesses in OASIS EXchange (BIPREX)

Coordinator Monica Modigh, Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy modighszn.it

BIPREX is part of the OASIS cluster OASIS-1010. OASIS (Ocean, Atmosphere, Sea Ice Snowpack Interactions) is focused on chemical, physical and biological exchange processes on tropospheric chemistry, the cryosphere, and the marine environment in the Arctic, and their feedback mechanisms in the context of a changing climate. The aim of BIPREX is to determine the composition and activity of microbial communities as relevant to the biologically mediated exchanges between snow/ice/water and the atmosphere. The on-going changes in snow and sea ice, and the load of pollutants from the Northern hemisphere, are expected to have major impacts on the biological activities of Arctic microbial communities. Metabolic activities of cold-adapted prokaryotes and microalgae in the water and cryosphere are major processes controlling the carbon cycle as well as the cycles of a wide range of inorganic and organic compounds, either produced by the microorganisms themselves (e.g. organic halogens, DMS) or by the absorption/transformation of materials produced elsewhere and transported to the Arctic.

Through conceptual and semi-quantitative models, our results, combined with those of other OASIS teams, will provide plausible, internally consistent descriptions of the impact of temperature shifts and changes in snow and ice cover on the Arctic microbiota and its feedbacks on future climate. BIPREX field work is planned to take place at the NSF ice camp in 2007 and as joint OASIS field experiment at Barrow, AK in 2008. A further OASIS field experiment may be possible at the NSF ice camp in 2009.