Joint Global Ocean Flux Study: Vision and Progress

Hugh W. Ducklow

Chair, U. S.-JGOFS Scientific Steering Committee
School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary,Gloucester Point, VA 23062-1346

Abstract

The U.S. component of the international Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) program had its origin in a recommendation from a workshop held under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) at the Woods Hole Study Center in September 1984. Internationally, JGOFS arises from a scientific meeting convened by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) in Paris, Feb 1987. The broad objectives of U.S.-JGOFS are: to determine and understand on a global scale the time-varying fluxes of carbon and associated biogenic elements in the ocean and to evaluate the related exchanges of these elements with the atmosphere, the sea floor and the continental boundaries. To achieve these goals, four separate program elements were defined: (1) process studies to capture key regular events, (2) long-term time-series observations at strategic sites, (3) a global survey of relevant oceanic properties (e.g., CO₂) and (4) a vigorous data interpretation and modeling effort to disseminate knowledge and generate testable hypotheses.

Since 1987, scientific progress towards the stated goals of JGOFS has been rapid. In addition to the time-series programs in Hawaii and Bermuda, three major process studies in the North Atlantic, Equatorial Pacific and Arabian Sea have been conducted and a final Southern Ocean study is currently underway. In addition, the data synthesis and modeling components of JGOFS have already begun to provide a comprehensive and, in part, revised view of oceanic biogeochemical cycles. These and other ongoing JGOFS activities will be summarized and a prospectus for the future will also be presented.