The integral role of iron in ocean biogeochemistry

Tagliabue, Alessandro; Bowie, Andrew R.; Boyd, Philip W.; Buck, Kristen N.; Johnson, Kenneth S.; Saito, Mak A.

doi:10.1038/nature21058

Cited by 576 publications

(498 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…This is in contrast to evidence of iron limitation in the Southern Ocean, North Atlantic, and eastern boundary currents and upwelling systems (see the recent review by Tagliabue et al, 2017). More iron limitation of phytoplankton growth in the UVic ESCM might damp the NPP response we show for lower light attenuation simulations in the Southern Ocean and eastern equatorial Pacific.…”

Section: Rcp 85 Transient Simulationscontrasting

confidence: 48%

Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing

Kvale

Meißner

2017

Biogeosciences

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Abstract. Treatment of the underwater light field in ocean biogeochemical models has been attracting increasing interest, with some models moving towards more complex parameterisations. We conduct a simple sensitivity study of a typical, highly simplified parameterisation. In our study, we vary the phytoplankton light attenuation parameter over a range constrained by data during both pre-industrial equilibrated and future climate scenario RCP8.5. In equilibrium, lower light attenuation parameters (weaker self-shading) shift net primary production (NPP) towards the high latitudes, while higher values of light attenuation (stronger shelf-shading) shift NPP towards the low latitudes. Climate forcing magnifies this relationship through changes in the distribution of nutrients both within and between ocean regions. Where and how NPP responds to climate forcing can determine the magnitude and sign of global NPP trends in this high CO 2 future scenario. Ocean oxygen is particularly sensitive to parameter choice. Under higher CO 2 concentrations, two simulations establish a strong biogeochemical feedback between the Southern Ocean and low-latitude Pacific that highlights the potential for regional teleconnection. Our simulations serve as a reminder that shifts in fundamental properties (e.g. light attenuation by phytoplankton) over deep time have the potential to alter global biogeochemistry.

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Section: Rcp 85 Transient Simulationscontrasting

confidence: 48%

Primary production sensitivity to phytoplankton light attenuation parameter increases with transient forcing

Kvale

Meißner

2017

Biogeosciences

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“…For marine ecosystems, long-range transport and subsequent deposition of mineral dust can result in an influx of nutrients and thereby stimulate growth of aquatic organisms. For example, aeolian dust contains Fe, which is essential to the growth of aquatic organisms such as phytoplankton (Zhuang et al, 1992;Luo et al, 2005;Mahowald et al, 2009Mahowald et al, , 2017Tagliabue et al, 2017). Zhuang et al (1992) proposed that Fe contained in dust may couple with anthropogenic S in the atmosphere and ocean, thereby enhancing solubility and subsequent availability to aquatic organisms.…”

Section: Influence On Asia-pacific Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, oceanic chlorophyll observations have suggested a strong linkage between mineral dust and oceanic primary production after atmospheric dust deposition events (Young et al, 1991;Mahowald et al, 2009). Duce et al (1991) and Tagliabue et al (2017) also suggest a possible association between dust storms and enrichment of iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) in oceans. Mineral dust aerosols are the primary source of Fe in the atmosphere (Mahowald et al, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

East Asian dust storm in May 2017: observations, modelling, and its influence on the Asia-Pacific region

et al. 2018

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Abstract. A severe dust storm event originated from the Gobi Desert in Central and East Asia during 2–7 May 2017. Based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite products, hourly environmental monitoring measurements from Chinese cities and East Asian meteorological observation stations, and numerical simulations, we analysed the spatial and temporal characteristics of this dust event as well as its associated impact on the Asia-Pacific region. The maximum observed hourly PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 µm) concentration was above 1000 µg m−3 in Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, and Langfang and above 2000 µg m−3 in Erdos, Hohhot, Baotou, and Alxa in northern China. This dust event affected over 8.35 million km2, or 87 % of the Chinese mainland, and significantly deteriorated air quality in 316 cities of the 367 cities examined across China. The maximum surface wind speed during the dust storm was 23–24 m s−1 in the Mongolian Gobi Desert and 20–22 m s−1 in central Inner Mongolia, indicating the potential source regions of this dust event. Lidar-derived vertical dust profiles in Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo indicated dust aerosols were uplifted to an altitude of 1.5–3.5 km, whereas simulations by the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model indicated 20.4 and 5.3 Tg of aeolian dust being deposited respectively across continental Asia and the North Pacific Ocean. According to forward trajectory analysis by the FLEXible PARTicle dispersion (FLEXPART) model, the East Asian dust plume moved across the North Pacific within a week. Dust concentrations decreased from the East Asian continent across the Pacific Ocean from a magnitude of 103 to 10−5 µg m−3, while dust deposition intensity ranged from 104 to 10−1 mg m−2. This dust event was unusual due to its impact on continental China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and the North Pacific Ocean. Asian dust storms such as those observed in early May 2017 may lead to wider climate forcing on a global scale.

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“…Atmospheric deposition is considered an important external Fe source to the open ocean (Jickells et al, 2005;Tagliabue et al, 2017). Micronutrient Fe delivered through atmospheric pathways may influence the primary and 10 export production of carbon over the High-Nutrient Low-Chlorophyll (HNLC) oceanic regions (i.e., the oceanic regions where Fe is the limiting factor for phytoplankton productivity) (Fung et al, 2000;Krishnamurthy et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%