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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ftoceanrep:oai:oceanrep.geomar.de:27376 2023-05-15T17:33:46+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 https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/27376/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/27376/1/Marsay.pdf https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112 en eng National Academy of Sciences https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/27376/1/Marsay.pdf Marsay, C. M., Sanders, R. J., Henson, S. A., Pabortsava, K., Achterberg, E. P. and Lampitt, R. S. (2015) Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean. Open Access PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112 (4). pp. 1089-1094. DOI 10.1073/pnas.1415311112 <https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112>. doi:10.1073/pnas.1415311112 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Article PeerReviewed 2015 ftoceanrep https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112 2023-04-07T15:17:31Z 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 Here we present previously unpublished profiles of mesopelagic POC flux derived from neutrally buoyant sediment traps deployed in the North Atlantic, from which we calculate the remineralization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 OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) Pacific Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112 4 1089 1094 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) |
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ftoceanrep |
language |
English |
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. |
spellingShingle |
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 |
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 |
publisher |
National Academy of Sciences |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/27376/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/27376/1/Marsay.pdf https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112 |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/27376/1/Marsay.pdf Marsay, C. M., Sanders, R. J., Henson, S. A., Pabortsava, K., Achterberg, E. P. and Lampitt, R. S. (2015) Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean. Open Access PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112 (4). pp. 1089-1094. DOI 10.1073/pnas.1415311112 <https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112>. doi:10.1073/pnas.1415311112 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415311112 |
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
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112 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1089 |
op_container_end_page |
1094 |
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1766132371400163328 |