This research programme has two stages. 

Stage one will provide new understanding of key processes. Stage two will integrate this new knowledge into models, to assess its global consequences. 

The strategy for stage one is to encourage modelling, laboratory work and fieldwork to overlap, recognising that such an interdisciplinary approach is key to solving this complex issue. 

Stage one is split between projects not requiring fieldwork and projects requiring fieldwork. 

These projects are staggered so ideas for novel techniques or sampling strategies from non-fieldwork projects can percolate into planning for fieldwork projects. 

Fieldwork projects will form part of a major fieldwork programme, with scope for significant use of NERC ship time and autonomous systems. 

In addition to bringing novel modelling approaches to bear on this topic, stage two will make use of contrasting global models that are routinely used across the UK community. This will allow the feedbacks arising from climate-triggered shifts in processes to be assessed. 

Using a diverse range of models will provide a robust assessment of the impact of biologically affected changes in ocean carbon storage to 2100, and its uncertainty. 

The UK has a range of models needed for this important step that very few other countries possess.