Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean
The biological carbon pump, which transports particulate organic carbon (POC) from the surface to the deep ocean, plays an important role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. We know very little about geographical variability in the remineralization depth of this sinking ma...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:509087 2023-05-15T17:34:07+02:00 Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean Marsay, Chris M. Sanders, Richard J. Henson, Stephanie A. Pabortsava, Katsiaryna Achterberg, Eric P. Lampitt, Richard S. 2015-01-27 text http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509087/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509087/1/1089.full.pdf en eng https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509087/1/1089.full.pdf Marsay, Chris M.; Sanders, Richard J. orcid:0000-0002-6884-7131 Henson, Stephanie A. orcid:0000-0002-3875-6802 Pabortsava, Katsiaryna; Achterberg, Eric P.; Lampitt, Richard S. 2015 Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 112 (4). 1089-1094. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112 <https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112> Marine Sciences Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2015 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112 2023-02-04T19:40:38Z The biological carbon pump, which transports particulate organic carbon (POC) from the surface to the deep ocean, plays an important role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. We know very little about geographical variability in the remineralization depth of this sinking material and less about what controls such variability. Here we present previously unpublished profiles of mesopelagic POC flux derived from neutrally buoyant sediment traps deployed in the North Atlantic, from which we calculate the remineralization length scale for each site. Combining these results with corresponding data from the North Pacific, we show that the observed variability in attenuation of vertical POC flux can largely be explained by temperature, with shallower remineralization occurring in warmer waters. This is seemingly inconsistent with conclusions drawn from earlier analyses of deep-sea sediment trap and export flux data, which suggest lowest transfer efficiency at high latitudes. However, the two patterns can be reconciled by considering relatively intense remineralization of a labile fraction of material in warm waters, followed by efficient downward transfer of the remaining refractory fraction, while in cold environments, a larger labile fraction undergoes slower remineralization that continues over a longer length scale. Based on the observed relationship, future increases in ocean temperature will likely lead to shallower remineralization of POC and hence reduced storage of CO2 by the ocean. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Pacific Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112 4 1089 1094 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
English |
topic |
Marine Sciences |
spellingShingle |
Marine Sciences Marsay, Chris M. Sanders, Richard J. Henson, Stephanie A. Pabortsava, Katsiaryna Achterberg, Eric P. Lampitt, Richard S. Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean |
topic_facet |
Marine Sciences |
description |
The biological carbon pump, which transports particulate organic carbon (POC) from the surface to the deep ocean, plays an important role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. We know very little about geographical variability in the remineralization depth of this sinking material and less about what controls such variability. Here we present previously unpublished profiles of mesopelagic POC flux derived from neutrally buoyant sediment traps deployed in the North Atlantic, from which we calculate the remineralization length scale for each site. Combining these results with corresponding data from the North Pacific, we show that the observed variability in attenuation of vertical POC flux can largely be explained by temperature, with shallower remineralization occurring in warmer waters. This is seemingly inconsistent with conclusions drawn from earlier analyses of deep-sea sediment trap and export flux data, which suggest lowest transfer efficiency at high latitudes. However, the two patterns can be reconciled by considering relatively intense remineralization of a labile fraction of material in warm waters, followed by efficient downward transfer of the remaining refractory fraction, while in cold environments, a larger labile fraction undergoes slower remineralization that continues over a longer length scale. Based on the observed relationship, future increases in ocean temperature will likely lead to shallower remineralization of POC and hence reduced storage of CO2 by the ocean. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Marsay, Chris M. Sanders, Richard J. Henson, Stephanie A. Pabortsava, Katsiaryna Achterberg, Eric P. Lampitt, Richard S. |
author_facet |
Marsay, Chris M. Sanders, Richard J. Henson, Stephanie A. Pabortsava, Katsiaryna Achterberg, Eric P. Lampitt, Richard S. |
author_sort |
Marsay, Chris M. |
title |
Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean |
title_short |
Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean |
title_full |
Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean |
title_fullStr |
Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean |
title_full_unstemmed |
Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean |
title_sort |
attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509087/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509087/1/1089.full.pdf |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509087/1/1089.full.pdf Marsay, Chris M.; Sanders, Richard J. orcid:0000-0002-6884-7131 Henson, Stephanie A. orcid:0000-0002-3875-6802 Pabortsava, Katsiaryna; Achterberg, Eric P.; Lampitt, Richard S. 2015 Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 112 (4). 1089-1094. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112 <https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112 |
container_title |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
container_volume |
112 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1089 |
op_container_end_page |
1094 |
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1766132846448082944 |