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CCPO is active in observation and modeling of oceanic processes on the Antarctic continental shelf as well as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. A Southern Ocean numerical model provides information on movement of properties (warm water, sea ice, larvae, krill, and others) around the continent.  Regional models provide higher space resolution which provide more details for physical and biological processes in the Ross Sea, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas.  

These studies focus on 1) intrusion of warm oceanic water onto the shelf which causes basal melting of floating ice sheets, 2) effects of dissolved iron on primary production,  3) analysis of water properties taken from instruments attached to seals, 4) analysis of polynya effects on primary production, and 5) determination of the connection between the marine protected areas (MPA) in the Ross Sea with coastal areas outside of the MPAs. One study is working with a coupled model of the atmosphere, ocean and sea ice to understand the interaction over small space scales of these three components of the Southern Ocean.