Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing
Treatment of the underwater light field in ocean biogeochemical models has been attracting increasing interest, with some models moving towards more complex parameterisations. We conduct a simple sensitivity study of a typical, highly simplified parameterisation. In our study, we vary the phytoplank...
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:bg58265 2023-05-15T18:25:30+02:00 Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing Kvale, Karin F. Meissner, Katrin J. 2018-09-27 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-4767-2017 https://www.biogeosciences.net/14/4767/2017/ eng eng doi:10.5194/bg-14-4767-2017 https://www.biogeosciences.net/14/4767/2017/ eISSN: 1726-4189 Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-4767-2017 2019-12-24T09:50:55Z Treatment of the underwater light field in ocean biogeochemical models has been attracting increasing interest, with some models moving towards more complex parameterisations. We conduct a simple sensitivity study of a typical, highly simplified parameterisation. In our study, we vary the phytoplankton light attenuation parameter over a range constrained by data during both pre-industrial equilibrated and future climate scenario RCP8.5. In equilibrium, lower light attenuation parameters (weaker self-shading) shift net primary production (NPP) towards the high latitudes, while higher values of light attenuation (stronger shelf-shading) shift NPP towards the low latitudes. Climate forcing magnifies this relationship through changes in the distribution of nutrients both within and between ocean regions. Where and how NPP responds to climate forcing can determine the magnitude and sign of global NPP trends in this high CO 2 future scenario. Ocean oxygen is particularly sensitive to parameter choice. Under higher CO 2 concentrations, two simulations establish a strong biogeochemical feedback between the Southern Ocean and low-latitude Pacific that highlights the potential for regional teleconnection. Our simulations serve as a reminder that shifts in fundamental properties (e.g. light attenuation by phytoplankton) over deep time have the potential to alter global biogeochemistry. Text Southern Ocean Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Pacific Southern Ocean Biogeosciences 14 20 4767 4780 |
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Open Polar |
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Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
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ftcopernicus |
language |
English |
description |
Treatment of the underwater light field in ocean biogeochemical models has been attracting increasing interest, with some models moving towards more complex parameterisations. We conduct a simple sensitivity study of a typical, highly simplified parameterisation. In our study, we vary the phytoplankton light attenuation parameter over a range constrained by data during both pre-industrial equilibrated and future climate scenario RCP8.5. In equilibrium, lower light attenuation parameters (weaker self-shading) shift net primary production (NPP) towards the high latitudes, while higher values of light attenuation (stronger shelf-shading) shift NPP towards the low latitudes. Climate forcing magnifies this relationship through changes in the distribution of nutrients both within and between ocean regions. Where and how NPP responds to climate forcing can determine the magnitude and sign of global NPP trends in this high CO 2 future scenario. Ocean oxygen is particularly sensitive to parameter choice. Under higher CO 2 concentrations, two simulations establish a strong biogeochemical feedback between the Southern Ocean and low-latitude Pacific that highlights the potential for regional teleconnection. Our simulations serve as a reminder that shifts in fundamental properties (e.g. light attenuation by phytoplankton) over deep time have the potential to alter global biogeochemistry. |
format |
Text |
author |
Kvale, Karin F. Meissner, Katrin J. |
spellingShingle |
Kvale, Karin F. Meissner, Katrin J. Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing |
author_facet |
Kvale, Karin F. Meissner, Katrin J. |
author_sort |
Kvale, Karin F. |
title |
Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing |
title_short |
Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing |
title_full |
Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing |
title_fullStr |
Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing |
title_full_unstemmed |
Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing |
title_sort |
primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-4767-2017 https://www.biogeosciences.net/14/4767/2017/ |
geographic |
Pacific Southern Ocean |
geographic_facet |
Pacific Southern Ocean |
genre |
Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Southern Ocean |
op_source |
eISSN: 1726-4189 |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/bg-14-4767-2017 https://www.biogeosciences.net/14/4767/2017/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-4767-2017 |
container_title |
Biogeosciences |
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14 |
container_issue |
20 |
container_start_page |
4767 |
op_container_end_page |
4780 |
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1766206989972537344 |