Ocean Biogeochemical Signatures of the North Pacific Blob ...

The Blob was the early manifestation of the Northeast Pacific marine heat wave from 2013 to 2016. While the upper ocean temperature in the Blob has been well described, the impacts on marine biogeochemistry have not been fully studied. Here, we characterize and develop understanding of Eastern North...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mogen, Samuel C., Lovenduski, Nicole S., Dallmann, Allysa R., Gregor, Luke, Sutton, Adrienne J., Bograd, Steven J., Cordero Quiros, Nathali, Di Lorenzo, Emanuele, Hazen, Elliott L., Jacox, Michael G., Pozo Buil, Mercedes, Yeager, Stephen
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: ETH Zurich 2022
Subjects:
Ocean acidification
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000545882
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/545882
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Summary:The Blob was the early manifestation of the Northeast Pacific marine heat wave from 2013 to 2016. While the upper ocean temperature in the Blob has been well described, the impacts on marine biogeochemistry have not been fully studied. Here, we characterize and develop understanding of Eastern North Pacific upper ocean biogeochemical properties during the Winter of 2013–2014 using in situ observations, an observation-based product, and reconstructions from a collection of ocean models. We find that the Blob is associated with significant upper ocean biogeochemical anomalies: A 5% increase in aragonite saturation state (temporary reprieve of ocean acidification) and a 3% decrease in oxygen concentration (enhanced deoxygenation). Anomalous advection and mixing drive the aragonite saturation anomaly, while anomalous heating and air-sea gas exchange drive the oxygen anomaly. Marine heatwaves do not necessarily serve as an analog for future change as they may enhance or mitigate long-term trends. ... : Geophysical Research Letters, 49 (9) ...

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