Savannah, Ga. 

In the major ocean basins, energetic western boundary currents (WBC) adjacent to subtropical continental shelves (STCS) interact strongly with bathymetry, resulting in first order consequences to shelf biochemistry and ecosystem response. Comparative analysis of the physical forcing and biochemical/ecological ramifications between the different ocean/shelf settings has the potential to reveal common and contrasting underlying properties and their sensitivity to climatic perturbations in ways that fragmented attention to individual system idiosyncrasies cannot. We believe the time is right to consider these systems as parallel global marine ecosystems and to develop a coherent international strategy to assess their function and contributions to global carbon cycles.

The overall goal of this workshop is to convene a globally diverse group of researchers to discuss the state of knowledge of WBC-STCS ecosystems and to identify strategies for coordinating observational and research objectives to advance understanding of these dynamic regions. In-person participation is limited to <100. Some travel support for early career scientists and students will be available

The precise themes to be explored within the workshop will depend upon the final mix of participants, but there are numerous overarching research themes that connect the various regions.

•Identifying common STCS ecosystem characteristics, drivers and responses,
•Developing research approaches that can be applied successfully across systems,
•Quantifying production, cross-shelf transport, and export in STCS ecosystems,
•Responding to observational and modeling challenges posed by WBCs,
•Predicting ecosystem responses to changes in climate and boundary current transport.

Click <HERE> to see a preliminary draft agenda
Click <HERE> to complete a preregistration form
Click <HERE> to see presentations from the 2020 Virtual Pre-Workshop and Poster Sessions

Questions/comments may be directed to William.Savidge@skio.uga.edu