B1020
Title: Cluster of trajectories of airborne microorganisms susceptible to colonize Antarctic soils in a climate change scenario
Authors: Ana Justel - Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain) [presenting]
Lucas Fernandez Piana - Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET (Argentina)
Julio Rodriguez-Puerta - Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain)
Marcela Svarc - Universidad de San Andres (Argentina)
Sergi Gonzalez - Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia (Spain)
Abstract: A new cluster algorithm is proposed for Large Multivariate Functional Data Analysis (LMFDA), where data sets combine geographic positioning variables with continuous variables of non-comparable magnitudes. Variable standardization is crucial and is done taking into account the nature of the data as functions. The method is applied to clustering trajectories and back-trajectories arriving to the Byers Peninsula, located at the western coast of the Livingston Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica), to establish the dispersal capability of microorganisms susceptible of colonizing newly exposed locations in a climate change scenario. Ten years of 5-day back trajectories each six hours, computed with the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT), are clustered in groups that circulate in nearby regions, regardless of the moment they pass, and with similar environmental conditions (temperature, radiation, etc.) Main air transport patterns capture seasonal differences and rare events that influence in the microorganism viability, but do not take into account the speed at which propagules move. Another set of trajectories passing over Byers Peninsula and with origin in some of the terrestrial regions near Antarctica, are considered. The two clusters combination provides a map of airborne microorganism dispersion in Antarctica to be associated to in-situ captured propagules.
