Changes in phytoplankton concentration now drive increased Arctic Ocean primary production

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Lewis, K. M., van Dijken, G. L., Arrigo, K. R.
• Other Authors: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2020
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Phytoplankton; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aay8380; https://syndication.highwire.org/content/doi/10.1126/science.aay8380; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.aay8380

Food for thought Phytoplankton abundances in the Arctic Ocean have been increasing over recent decades as the region has warmed and sea ice has disappeared. The presumptive causes of this increase were expanding open water area and a longer growing season—at least until now. Lewis et al. show that although these factors may have driven the productivity trends before, over the past decade, phytoplankton primary production rose by more than half because of increased phytoplankton concentrations (see the Perspective by Babin). This finding means that there has been an influx of new nutrients into the region, suggesting that the Arctic Ocean could become more productive and export additional carbon in the future. Science , this issue p. 198 see also p. 137