Control of primary production in the Arctic by nutrients and light: insights from a high resolution ocean general circulation model

Popova, Ekaterina; Yool, Andrew; Coward, Andrew C.; Aksenov, Yevgeny; Alderson, S.G.; Cuevas, B. A. de; Anderson, Thomas R.

doi:10.5194/bg-7-3569-2010

Cited by 123 publications

(137 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…For instance, the sign of the projected future change in Arctic primary productivity in response to climate change is not consistent among different Earth system models [Steinacher et al, 2010]. Models also do not agree on whether light or nutrients limit primary production in the contemporary Arctic Ocean, due to inter-model differences in ice and ocean physics [Popova et al, 2010;2012]. In addition, the simulated stocks of heterotrophic consumers in the Arctic Ocean seem to be systematically underestimated, likely due to a lack of a model ice algal compartment [Zhang et al, 2010].…”

Section: Modelling and Up-scaling The Role Of Sea Ice In The Marine Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of sea ice in global biogeochemical cycles: emerging views and challenges

Vancoppenolle

Meiners

Michel

et al. 2013

Quaternary Science Reviews

217

215

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International audienceObservations from the last decade suggest an important role of sea ice in the global biogeochemical cycles, promoted by (i) active biological and chemical processes within the sea ice; (ii) fluid and gas exchanges at the sea ice interface through an often permeable sea ice cover; and (iii) tight physical, biological and chemical interactions between the sea ice, the ocean and the atmosphere. Photosynthetic micro-organisms in sea ice thrive in liquid brine inclusions encased in a pure ice matrix, where they find suitable light and nutrient levels. They extend the production season, provide a winter and early spring food source, and contribute to organic carbon export to depth. Under-ice and ice edge phytoplankton blooms occur when ice retreats, favoured by increasing light, stratification, and by the release of material into the water column. In particular, the release of iron - highly concentrated in sea ice - could have large effects in the iron-limited Southern Ocean. The export of inorganic carbon transport by brine sinking below the mixed layer, calcium carbonate precipitation in sea ice, as well as active ice-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes, could play a central role in the marine carbon cycle. Sea ice processes could also significantly contribute to the sulphur cycle through the large production by ice algae of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), the precursor of sulphate aerosols, which as cloud condensation nuclei have a potential cooling effect on the planet. Finally, the sea ice zone supports significant ocean-atmosphere methane (CH₄) fluxes, while saline ice surfaces activate springtime atmospheric bromine chemistry, setting ground for tropospheric ozone depletion events observed near both poles. All these mechanisms are generally known, but neither precisely understood nor quantified at large scales. As polar regions are rapidly changing, understanding the large-scale polar marine biogeochemical processes and their future evolution is of high priority. Earth system models should in this context prove essential, but they currently represent sea ice as biologically and chemically inert. Palaeoclimatic proxies are also relevant, in particular the sea ice proxies, inferring past sea ice conditions from glacial and marine sediment core records and providing analogues for future changes. Being highly constrained by marine biogeochemistry, sea ice proxies would not only contribute to but also benefit from a better understanding of polar marine biogeochemical cycles

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Section: Modelling and Up-scaling The Role Of Sea Ice In The Marine Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of sea ice in global biogeochemical cycles: emerging views and challenges

Vancoppenolle

Meiners

Michel

et al. 2013

Quaternary Science Reviews

217

215

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Ocean circulation is modeled using OPA version 9 (OPA9) [Madec, 2008], a primitive equation model configured at global-scale, with a horizontal resolution of approximately 0.258 and 64 grid levels in the vertical [Popova et al, 2010]. The model grid is tripolar with cell sizes ranging approximately 6.8-15.4 km horizontally, and increasing in thickness from 6 m at the surface to approximately 250 m at abyssal depths.…”

Section: A10 Model 10mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This model is NEMO (version 3.2)-MEDUSA, a coupled biophysics model comprised of an ocean general circulation model (OGCM), a sea ice model, and a representation of marine biogeochemistry [Popova et al, 2010[Popova et al, , 2012. Ocean circulation is modeled using OPA version 9 (OPA9) [Madec, 2008], a primitive equation model configured at global-scale, with a horizontal resolution of approximately 0.258 and 64 grid levels in the vertical [Popova et al, 2010].…”

Section: A10 Model 10mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This latter class of models has been applied to improve our understanding of the Arctic Ocean carbon sinks and sources using regional [e.g., Deal et al, 2011;Manizza et al, 2013;Slagstad et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2010cZhang et al, ,2015 to global [e.g., Popova et al, 2010;Vancoppenolle et al, 2013] ice-ocean-atmosphere carbon cycle simulations. In general, the magnitude, vertical extent, and seasonal evolution of NPP are simulated largely as a function of temperature, light, nutrient availability, and physical forcing (advection, mixing, and stratification) as well as associated planktonic and sea ice food web processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Net primary productivity estimates and environmental variables in the Arctic Ocean: An assessment of coupled physical-biogeochemical models

Lee

Matrai

Friedrichs

et al. 2016

J. Geophys. Res. Oceans

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The relative skill of 21 regional and global biogeochemical models was assessed in terms of how well the models reproduced observed net primary productivity (NPP) and environmental variables such as nitrate concentration (NO3), mixed layer depth (MLD), euphotic layer depth (Zeu), and sea ice concentration, by comparing results against a newly updated, quality‐controlled in situ NPP database for the Arctic Ocean (1959–2011). The models broadly captured the spatial features of integrated NPP (iNPP) on a pan‐Arctic scale. Most models underestimated iNPP by varying degrees in spite of overestimating surface NO3, MLD, and Zeu throughout the regions. Among the models, iNPP exhibited little difference over sea ice condition (ice‐free versus ice‐influenced) and bottom depth (shelf versus deep ocean). The models performed relatively well for the most recent decade and toward the end of Arctic summer. In the Barents and Greenland Seas, regional model skill of surface NO3 was best associated with how well MLD was reproduced. Regionally, iNPP was relatively well simulated in the Beaufort Sea and the central Arctic Basin, where in situ NPP is low and nutrients are mostly depleted. Models performed less well at simulating iNPP in the Greenland and Chukchi Seas, despite the higher model skill in MLD and sea ice concentration, respectively. iNPP model skill was constrained by different factors in different Arctic Ocean regions. Our study suggests that better parameterization of biological and ecological microbial rates (phytoplankton growth and zooplankton grazing) are needed for improved Arctic Ocean biogeochemical modeling.

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“…While Arrigo et al (2011) propose that SCM play a modest role and account for ca. 8 % of pan-Arctic annual production, Popova et al (2010) and Hill et al (2012) assess their contribution at ca. 50 %.…”

Section: Acclimation and Vertical Coupling Of C And N Uptakementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritive and photosynthetic ecology of subsurface chlorophyll maxima in Canadian Arctic waters

Martin¹,

Tremblay²,

Price

2012

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. Assessments of carbon and nitrogen (N) assimilation in Canadian Arctic waters confirmed the large contribution of subsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) to total water-column production from spring to late fall. Although SCM communities showed acclimation to low irradiance and greater nitrate (NO − 3 ) availability, their productivity was generally constrained by light and temperature. During springearly summer, most of the primary production at the SCM was sustained by NO − 3 , with an average f -ratio (i.e., relative contribution of NO − 3 uptake to total N uptake) of 0.74 ± 0.26. The seasonal decrease in NO − 3 availability and irradiance, coupled to the build up of ammonium (NH + 4 ), favoured a transition toward a predominantly regenerative system (fratio = 0.37 ± 0.20) during late summer and fall. Results emphasize the need to adequately consider SCM when estimating primary production and to revisit ecosystem model parameters in highly stratified Arctic waters.

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Control of primary production in the Arctic by nutrients and light: insights from a high resolution ocean general circulation model

Cited by 123 publications

References 89 publications

Role of sea ice in global biogeochemical cycles: emerging views and challenges

Role of sea ice in global biogeochemical cycles: emerging views and challenges

Net primary productivity estimates and environmental variables in the Arctic Ocean: An assessment of coupled physical-biogeochemical models

Nutritive and photosynthetic ecology of subsurface chlorophyll maxima in Canadian Arctic waters

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