Implications of large-scale iron fertilization of the oceans

Boyd, Philip W.

doi:10.3354/meps07541

Cited by 49 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 207 publications

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“…There is currently much debate on the possibility of stimulating phytoplankton blooms to remove carbon from surface waters to the deep (e.g. see Theme Section on Iron fertilization in MEPS, introduced by Boyd, 2008). However, the processes of carbon removal are complex and diverse.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Summer microplankton community structure across the Scotia Sea: implications for biological carbon export

et al. 2010

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Abstract. During the austral summer of 2008, we carried out a high resolution survey of the microplankton communities along a south to north transect covering a range of environments across the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean; high and low productivity, sea-ice to open water conditions, and over a number of oceanographic fronts and bathymetric features. Cluster analysis revealed five distinct communities that were geographically constrained by physical features of bathymetry and fronts. From south to north the communities were:

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Summer microplankton community structure across the Scotia Sea: implications for biological carbon export

et al. 2010

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“…The discrepancies in effectiveness between natural and purposeful fertilizations might be partly due to the ∼75% immediate loss of added Fe in artificial fertilisations . These values will need to be much more tightly constrained to allow a thorough assessment of the potential success of iron fertilization as a means to reduce the increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and cost (Boyd, 2008). The success of the large scale oceanic additions of iron has furthermore been put into doubt by modeling studies.…”

Section: Artificial Iron Fertilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Iron biogeochemistry across marine systems – progress from the past decade

et al. 2010

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Abstract. Based on an international workshop (Gothenburg, 14-16 May 2008), this review article aims to combine interdisciplinary knowledge from coastal and open ocean research on iron biogeochemistry. The major scientific findings of the past decade are structured into sections on natural and artificial iron fertilization, iron inputs into coastal and estuarine systems, colloidal iron and organic matter, and biological processes. Potential effects of global climate change, particularly ocean acidification, on iron biogeochemistry are discussed. The findings are synthesized into recommendations for future research areas.Correspondence to: E. Breitbarth (ebreitbarth@chemistry.otago.ac.nz)

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“…Briefly, iron fertilization of the HNLC regions of the ocean is the most publicized proposal, and the only one that has been tested in in situ experiments. However, these experiments mainly focused on biological response and export flux , Boyd 2008 and did not assess if fertilization had an impact on sequestration flux. Iron fertilization of areas with residual phosphate but deficient in nitrate and iron has also been proposed to enhance nitrogen fixation and thus input of allochthonous nutrients.…”

Section: Deliberate Perturbation Of the Biological Pumpmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biological pump in a high CO<sub>2 world

Passow¹,

Carlson²

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

327

267

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The vertical separation of organic matter formation from respiration can lead to net carbon sequestration within the ocean's interior, making the biological pump an important component of the global carbon cycle. Understanding the response of the biological pump to the changing environment is a prerequisite to predicting future atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Will the biological pump weaken or strengthen? Currently the ocean science community is unable to confidently answer this question. Carbon flux at approximately 1000 m depth, the sequestration flux, determines the removal of carbon from the atmosphere on time scales ≥100 yr. The sequestration flux depends upon: (1) input rates of nutrients allochthonous to the ocean, (2) the export flux at the base of the euphotic zone, (3) the deviation of carbon fixation and remineralization from Redfield stoichiometry, and (4) the flux attenuation in the upper 1000 m. The biological response to increasing temperature, ocean stratification, nutrient availability and ocean acidification is frequently taxa-and ecosystem-specific and the results of synergistic effects are challenging to predict. Consequently, the use of global averages and steady state assumptions (e.g. Redfield stoichiometry, mesopelagic nutrient inventory) for predictive models is often insufficient. Our ability to predict sequestration flux additionally suffers from a lack of understanding of mesopelagic food web functioning and flux attenuation. However, regional specific investigations show great promise, suggesting that in the near future predictions of changes to the biological pump will have to be regionally and ecosystem specific, with the ultimate goal of integrating to global scales.

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Implications of large-scale iron fertilization of the oceans

Cited by 49 publications

References 207 publications

Summer microplankton community structure across the Scotia Sea: implications for biological carbon export

Summer microplankton community structure across the Scotia Sea: implications for biological carbon export

Iron biogeochemistry across marine systems – progress from the past decade

The biological pump in a high CO<sub>2 world

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