Munida Time Series
western South Pacific
Latitude:   -45.7700     Longitude:   170.7200

 Associated Investigators:
Kim Currie (NIWA) ,
Keith Hunter (University of Otago) ,   Malcolm Reid (University of Otago)  

The Munida Time Series is a surface transect extending 65 km off the south east coast of New Zealand, and includes neritic, modified subtropical and sub-antarctic surface waters (SASW). The time series was established in 1998 to study the role of these waters in the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and the seasonal, interannual and long term changes of the carbonate chemistry. Cruises are bi-monthly and consist of surface measurements plus a depth station in SASW. All water masses are a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (Currie et al., 2011), the seasonal cycles of DIC are primarily driven by net community production (Brix et al, 2013; Jones et al. 2013) with modification by the annual cycle of sea surface temperature. Aspects of trace metal chemistry, nitrogen cycling and bacterial production have been studied on a shorter term basis, embedded within the main programme.

References:

Brix, H., Currie, K.I., Mikaloff Fletcher, S., 2013. Seasonal variability of the carbon cycle in subantarctic surface water in the South West Pacific. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 27, 1-12.


Currie, K.I., Reid, M.R., Hunter, K.A., 2011. Interannual variability of carbon dioxide drawdown by subantarctic surface water near New Zealand. Biogeochemistry 104, 23-34.


Jones, K., Currie, K.I., McGraw, C.M., Hunter, K.A., 2013. The effect of coastal processes on phytoplankton biomass and primary production within the near-shore Subtropical Frontal Zone. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 124, 44-55.