Research of sea ice biogeochemical data and oceanographic measurements under the Ross ice shelf

Oceanographic data compiling of - salinity, current, pressure, ice-water interface data was gathered from under the Ross Ice shelf to gain a better understanding of the interactions of sub ice shelf water and the Ross Sea, with the intention of developing a model of the ocean – sea ice – ice shelf interaction.

Additional research has been undertaken to recognise the exchanges of energy and matter across the ocean-sea ice- atmosphere boundary during the growth and decay of sea ice. Hence to quantify the fluxes of gases such as CO2, DMS, CH¬¬2 and N2O to the atmosphere and on carbon export to the deep ocean.

The deployment of a probe to collect real time sea ice growth data and to compare this with the isotope record in associated sea ice cores to further refine the isotope ratio method for the determination of sea ice growth characteristics. A further deployment of an instrument to determine the frazzle ice density in the water column further adds to an understanding of the role of this type of ice on sea ice growth.