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Adrian Burd

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Professor
  • B.Sc. Astronomy (University College London, UK)
  • M.A.St. Theoretical Physics (Cambridge University, UK)
  • D.Phil, Astronomy (Sussex University, UK)
Labs:
Research Interests:

My research involves the use of mathematical and computer modeling to understand how different marine systems function and how they might change under changing environmental and climate conditions. For me, a marine system can mean many things; a the biological and chemical transformations of a single particle of detrital material settling through the water column; the productivity of a seagrass bed along the coast; the cycling of carbon in the global ocean. 

Particle Flux: Sinking particulate organic material formed from phytoplankton cells, fecal pellets, and detritus is one of the main routes that organic matter can get from the surface to the deep ocean. The biological and chemical transformations that these particles undergo as they sink help determine the vertical profiles of various elements in the oceans and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. I am interested in understanding and being able to model the factors affecting the quality and composition of this flux and how it changes on its journey from the surface to the deep ocean. 

Coastal Systems:  I am interested in understanding the factors affecting the productivity of marine macrophytes such as seagrasses and seaweeds, as well as saltmarsh grass systems. Most of my work in this area has concerned seagrasses in Texas and Florida, seaweeds along the northern shore of Alaska, and saltmarshes in Georgia. The approach is to work closely with field scientists and ecologists in developing a mathematical and computational model that follows the dynamics of the plant growth over time and under different environmental conditions.

Jung Y, Burd A.  2017.  Seasonal changes in above- and below-ground non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in Spartina alterniflora in a marsh in Georgia, USA. Aquatic Botany. 140:13-22. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Coles V.J, Stukel M.R, Brooks M.T, Burd A., Crump B.C, Moran M.A, Paul J.H, Satinsky B.M, Yager P.L, Zielinski B.L et al..  2017.  Ocean biogeochemistry modeled with emergent trait-based genomics. Science. 358(6367):1149-1154.DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Coles V.J, Stukel M.R, Brooks M.T, Burd A., Crump B.C, Moran M.A, Paul J.H, Satinsky B.M, Yager P.L, Zielinski B.L et al..  2017.  Ocean biogeochemistry modeled with emergent trait-based genomics. Science. 358(6367):1149-1154. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Xavier M, Passow U, Migon C, Burd AB, Legendre L.  2017.  Transparent Exopolymer Particles: Effects on carbon cycling in the ocean. Progress in Oceanography. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Burd AB, Frey S, Cabre A, Ito T, Levine NM, nborg Cø, Long M, Mauritz M, R. Thomas Q, Stephens BM et al..  2016.  Terrestrial and Marine Perspectives on Modeling Organic Matter Degradation Pathways. Global Change Biology. :n/a-n/a. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Siegel DA, Buesseler KO, Behrenfeld MJ, Benitez-Nelson CR, Boss E, Brzezinski MA, Burd A, Carlson CA, D'Asaro EA, Doney SC et al..  2016.  Prediction of the Export and Fate of Global Ocean Net Primary Production: The EXPORTS Science Plan. Frontiers in Marine Science. 3. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Jackson GA, Burd AB.  2015.  Simulating aggregate dynamics in ocean biogeochemical models. Progress in Oceanography. 133:55-65. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Sheldon JE, Burd A.  2014.  Alternating Effects of Climate Drivers on Altamaha River Discharge to Coastal Georgia, USA. Estuaries and Coasts. 37(3):772-788. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Burd AB.  2013.  Modeling particle aggregation using size class and size spectrum approaches. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 118(7):3431-3443. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Burd AB, Hansell DA, Steinberg DK, Anderson TR, Arístegui J, Baltar F, Beaupré SR, Buesseler KO, DeHairs F, Jackson GA et al..  2010.  Assessing the apparent imbalance between geochemical and biochemical indicators of meso- and bathypelagic biological activity: What the @$♯! is wrong with present calculations of carbon budgets? Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 57(16):1557-1571. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Burd AB, Jackson GA.  2009.  Particle Aggregation. Annual Review of Marine Science. 1(1):65-90. DOI Google Scholar BibTex XML

Buesseler K.O., Benitez-Nelson C.R., Moran S.B., Burd A., Charette M., Cochran J.K., Coppola L., Fisher N.S., Fowler S.W., Gardner W.D. et al..  2006.  An assessment of particulate organic carbon to thorium-234 ratios in the ocean and their impact on the application of 234Th as a POC flux proxy. Marine Chemistry. 100(3-4):213-233. DOGoogle Scholar BibTex XML

Articles Featuring Adrian Burd

Dr. Adrian Burd is soaking up the views in the South of France. He was awarded a short stay award from the French "Make Our Planet Great Again" program. He is using the award to work with Dr. Lionel Guidi at the Observatoire…

Adrian Burd has been inducted into the University of Georgia Teaching Academy (http://teachingacademy.uga.edu/) as a member of the Class of 2017.  The UGA Teaching Academy is a part of the Teaching Academy…

Adrian Burd, together with colleagues from the University of California Santa Barbara and the University of Alaska, has been funded by NASA as part of the new EXPORTS program. This large, interdisciplinary program is designed to better understand the…

Adrian Burd has been selected as a Senior Teaching Fellow for 2017-2018 by the University of Georgia Center for Teaching and Learning. This fellowship honors and recognizes dedicated teachers who integrate their teaching and research and allows senior faculty…

Dr. Adrian Burd is part of an interdisciplinary team tapped by NASA and the Air Force to build and launch two cutting edge small satellites, part of the first space program at UGA. While the Small Satellite Research Lab has pledged financial support from…

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