The objective of the NACP coastal synthesis activities is to stimulate the synthesis and publication of recent observational and modeling results on carbon cycle fluxes and processes along the North American continental margin, a critical unknown in the North American carbon budget. NACP/OCB researchers presented preliminary findings of the coastal synthesis at the 2009 2nd NACP All-Investigators Meeting February 17-20, 2009 in San Diego, CA. A plenary session on the coastal synthesis included talks describing activities on the east, west, and Gulf of Mexico coasts, as well as applications of in situ optical and remotely sensed data in characterizing regional carbon dynamics. Participants of a coastal interim synthesis planning session developed a tentative road map that included some rudimentary goals for the coastal synthesis activity:

Phase 1. Regional Carbon Budgets

The first phase of the coastal synthesis will be to develop a carbon budget for each region based on a compilation of existing data, which will require literature searches, web searches of databases, etc. The following participants have volunteered to take the lead with this activity, although full community participation is welcome and encouraged:

• East coast: Ray Najjar, Marjy Friedrichs
• West coast: Simone Alin, Burke Hales
• Gulf of Mexico: Steve Lohrenz, Paula Coble
• Great Lakes: Galen McKinley

Phase 2. Community Modeling and Database Development

The second phase of the coastal synthesis will involve a community modeling activity to refine regional carbon budgets. For this activity, we will engage the larger community to agree on specifics of the model-data comparison exercise. During this phase, participants will also work with data managers to develop a coastal carbon database that is readily accessible to modelers.

It is important that the regional syntheses remain consistent in the treatment of fluxes (e.g., air-sea, terrestrial-marine, sediment-water, etc.) and internal processes (e.g., primary productivity). To support the level of coordination and collaboration required for such an extensive activity, regional leaders are currently developing a proposal to obtain support for data gathering efforts and 1-2 coastal synthesis workshops over the coming year. The purpose of such workshops would be to bring the community together to identify overarching objectives, develop an evolving roadmap, and agree on data treatment and modeling procedures to insure consistency among the regional synthesis activities. A coastal synthesis update, including a general overview of activities and progress on regional carbon budget activities, is tentatively planned in conjunction with the OCB summer workshop in July 2009.

We are pleased to announce the first Coastal Interim synthesis workshop, which will take place December 11-12, 2010 in conjunction with the Fall AGU meeting in San Francisco, CA. Please view the workshop announcement and website link listed below for details.


Information

• Coastal Workshop-Dec 2010
  Fall AGU (San Francisco)-FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
  
  Workshop Website
  (registration deadline OCT 29)


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