Model-derived estimates of new production: New results point towards lower values
Model-derived estimates of marine new production are found to display systematic covariations with the underlying model architecture. Almost regardless of the formulation of biogeochemical processes, model-derived estimates of new production have more than doubled from about Full-size image (<1 K...
Published in: | Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography |
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Main Author: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2001
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/1480/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/1480/1/1-s2.0-S0967064500001843-main.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/S0967-0645(00)00184-3 |
Summary: | Model-derived estimates of marine new production are found to display systematic covariations with the underlying model architecture. Almost regardless of the formulation of biogeochemical processes, model-derived estimates of new production have more than doubled from about Full-size image (<1 K) to values around Full-size image (<1 K) when turning from early box models to more recent investigations using coarse-resolution general circulation models. Because none of these models resolves eddies, which have been shown to enhance biological production, a further increase in simulated new production with increasing model resolution might be expected. This study presents results from an eddy-permitting coupled biological–physical model that suggest a basin-scale new production of less than Full-size image (<1 K) for the North Atlantic, i.e. substantially less than values typical for coarse-resolution models. Sensitivity experiments reveal that the amount of diapycnal mixing, described either explicitly or implicitly in the numerical discretization schemes, has a considerable effect on the simulated input of nutrients into the euphotic zone. Implications for coarse-resolution models used until now are that unrealistically high levels of explicit and implicit diapycnal diffusion may have been responsible for unrealistically high estimates of new production. |
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