Project Grant 2429375

This is a $340,000 federal Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The grant funds a collaborative research project to investigate the minimum size of zooplankton swimmers required to generate sustained biogenic turbulence. The objective is to improve understanding of how zooplankton motion contributes to vertical mixing of heat and CO2 in the ocean, which is critical for predicting future climate trends. The project will use laboratory experiments and computer simulations to reveal the relationship between swimmer size, background shear, and biogenic turbulence production. The research findings will enable more accurate modeling of these effects in ocean simulation tools. The project involves significant educational and outreach activities, including research participation by undergraduate and high school students.