Biogenic Bromine Production in Arctic Waters & Ice Algal Physiology and Sea Ice Optics

Regions: Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut

Tags: physical sciences, biology, phytoplankton, pollution, light absorbance, algae, seaweed

Principal Investigator: Cota, Glen (2)
Licence Number: 11040
Organization: University of Tennessee; University of Washington; Cold Regions Research & Environmental Laboratory; Oregon State University
Licensed Year(s): 1994 1993 1992 1991
Issued: Jan 01, 1991
Project Team: J. Rich; R. Styles; W. Sturges; P. Buckley; T. Grenfell; D. Perovich; D. Eriksen; J. Govoni; L. Padman; J. Simpkins

Objective(s): To identify biological sources of organohalogens and to quantify their rates of release and to document their distributions in sediments, water, sea ice, snow and the troposphere; to measure photosynthetic rates of ice algae, phytoplankton and/or seaweeds in relation to halogen emmission, light quantity and/or quality; to determine the influence of ice algae on the radiation buget of sea ice;

Project Description: The Researcher and his team will find out what marine plants (ice algae = brown ice or seaweeds) contain and/or release "organohalogen gases". The release of these gases is a natural source of pollution which has been going on for thousands of years. The research will identify various natural sources for organo and measure their rates of release in relation to normal growth processes.