Modeling the marine aragonite cycle: changes under rising carbon dioxide and its role in shallow water CaCO3 dissolution

• Published in: Biogeosciences
• Main Authors: Gangstø, R., Gehlen, M., Schneider, B., Bopp, L., Aumont, O., Joos, F.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Mesozooplankton
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-5-1057-2008; https://www.biogeosciences.net/5/1057/2008/

The marine aragonite cycle has been included in the global biogeochemical model PISCES to study the role of aragonite in shallow water CaCO 3 dissolution. Aragonite production is parameterized as a function of mesozooplankton biomass and aragonite saturation state of ambient waters. Observation-based estimates of marine carbonate production and dissolution are well reproduced by the model and about 60% of the combined CaCO 3 water column dissolution from aragonite and calcite is simulated above 2000 m. In contrast, a calcite-only version yields a much smaller fraction. This suggests that the aragonite cycle should be included in models for a realistic representation of CaCO 3 dissolution and alkalinity. For the SRES A2 CO 2 scenario, production rates of aragonite are projected to notably decrease after 2050. By the end of this century, global aragonite production is reduced by 29% and total CaCO 3 production by 19% relative to pre-industrial. Geographically, the effect from increasing atmospheric CO 2 , and the subsequent reduction in saturation state, is largest in the subpolar and polar areas where the modeled aragonite production is projected to decrease by 65% until 2100.