Carin Ashjian
Tasks
I am a Principal Investigator (PI) for a project that investigates the role of planktonic lower trophic levels in carbon and nitrogen transformation in the central Arctic, and I will participate in workshops, data synthesis, sampling.
Science Questions
What is the role of the lower trophic levels in the carbon and nitrogen budget and cycling? What is the importance of sea ice to lower trophic level (zooplankton) life histories and subsequent carbon and nitrogen transformations?
What are you most excited about the expedition?
I am excited about the opportunity to do work with Central Arctic zooplankton. This expedition will contrast nicely with the SHEBA expedition on which I also particpated. Major challenges will be accessing the ocean through the ice and the cold.
What do you love most about the Arctic?
The beauty, the strong seasonality, the relative simplicity of the ecosystem.