Annual report 2005-06.indd - Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems ...

performance measures2.3 To ensure recognition of oceanic carbon sinks and their impacts, to contribute to the effectivemanagement of carbon dioxide emissions.Performance Measure Achievements 2003-04 Achievements 2004-05 Achievements 2005-06Consideration of oceancarbon sinks in carbonmanagement plans andagreements.Research projectsinitiated.Co-authorship of globalcompilation of oceanicinventory of anthropogenic CO 2published in Science (Sabineet al., 2004) raised profile ofocean’s role in moderatingatmospheric greenhouse gasbuild-up.Demonstrated that climate modelsmust include both physical andbiological aspects of sea ice gasdynamics to correctly simulateatmospheric carbon budgets.Demonstrated that elevatedphytoplankton biomass overKerguelen plateau is fuelled byiron inputs from deep waters; thusthis region represents an area ofnatural persistent iron fertilisationthat can inform debate aboutthe role of iron in the control ofatmospheric CO 2.Simulation of ocean acidificationthrough the end of this centurysuggests major impacts oncarbonate-shell forming organisms,and that the greatest effectsare likely to occur in Antarcticwaters; emphasises direct effectof anthropogenic CO 2on marineecosystem.2.4 To provide observations essential to the consideration of climate change and variability in economicand environmental planning.Performance Measures Achievements 2003-04 Achievements 2004-05 Achievements 2005-061. Improved assessmentsof climate variabilityand change, and2. Increased referenceto this informationby economic andenvironmental researchusers.Research projectsinitiated.Published revised estimatesof sea-level rise for 1950 to2000 and new assessmentof warming of the SouthernOcean and associated thermalexpansion.Discovered new evidence ofthe connection between midlatitudeatmospheric circulationanomalies and physicaland ecological impacts inAntarctica.Completed several simulationsdemonstrating importance oflinks between Southern Oceanand global circulation andpotential responses of oceancirculation to climate change.Showed that volcanic eruptionshave a significant impact on oceanheat content and steric sea leveland that 20 th century eruptionsmasked sea-level rise that wouldotherwise have been present.Showed that the rate of sea-levelrise has increased during the 20 thcentury and provided the firstcomprehensive estimate of the rateof sea-level rise during the latterhalf of the 20 th century for Pacificand Indian Ocean islands.Comparison of new measurementswith historical data confirm that thebottom water south of Australia isundergoing rapid and widespreadchange, suggesting both thenorthern and southern limbs ofthe global overturning circulationare responding to changes in highlatitude climate.82 Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems CRC - Annual Report 2005-06