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Meeting Themes Observing Systems and TechnologyThe Observing Systems and Technology theme contains sessions devoted to plans for new and expanded marine observation programs. Focus is given to new initiatives within the Ocean.US framework and within the National Science Foundation. Part of the reason for these initiatives is the advent of new technologies, such as mapping of currents using high-frequency radar and autonomous ocean sampling using gliders. Several presentations are planned that focus on new observing system capabilities. Paleoclimatology and Paleoceanography The Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology theme deals with past changes in the Earth system, including the atmosphere, oceans and sea ice, cryosphere, terrestrial biosphere, and hydrology, from basin-scale to global, and from the Holocene to early Earth. Sessions focus on new results that integrate modeling and paleodata, the meaning and utility of paleotracers of past changes, and new records of Earth system history. Coastal Ocean Processes The Coastal Ocean Processes theme contains a variety of sessions examining processes in coastal environments ranging from coastal lagoons and estuaries to continental shelves. A number of interdisciplinary sessions examine physical features, sedimentary processes, or physical biological coupling in coastal ecosystems. Both regional studies and system comparisons are addressed. Ecosystem Observations and Modeling The Ecosystem Observations and Modeling theme at this meeting deals largely with observations and modeling of physical and biological coupling of marine population dynamics. Sessions are also included that examine biochemical cycles and plankton dynamics, as well as the role of climate in shaping marine ecosystems. Sessions devoted to regional studies of ecosystem dynamics range from the coastal to tropical oceans. Ocean Physics The Ocean Physics theme contains sessions on interannual to decadal ocean variability, river plumes, continental shelf dynamics, air-sea interaction, internal waves, internal tides, ocean mixing, thermohaline circulation, mesoscale eddies, and deep gravity currents. Several sessions are devoted to papers on nearshore physical processes. Other sessions are devoted to regions such as the North Atlantic Ocean, equatorial or high-latitude oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of California, and the channels and basins of Strait of Georgia-Puget Sound-Juan de Fuca Strait. One session compares the Canary and California Currents; another examines physical ocean processes off the west coast of North America. The ocean physics theme also extends to many interdisciplinary sessions devoted to other themes of this meeting. Climate Influences The Climate Influences theme is addressed by multiple sessions on the processes and forcings of coupled ocean-atmosphere systems in varied tropical to high-latitude ocean settings including the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and North Pacific. Both upper and deep-ocean processes are addressed, as are the climate influences on marine population dynamics including fisheries. Biogeochemistry The Biogeochemistry theme includes a wide variety of sessions on biogeochemical processes, cycling, and transformations in varied environments such as tropical and temperate oceans, ocean margins, and contaminated aquatic systems. Multiple sessions focus on the North American west coast region (e.g., Gulf of Alaska, Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca Strait, Puget Sound). Also included are sessions on applications of biogeochemical tools such as trace elements, isotopes, satellites, and observatories to address oceanic problems. |
