Regional Characteristics of the Temporal Variability in the Global Particulate Inorganic Carbon Inventory

Coccolithophores are a biogeochemically important calcifying group of phytoplankton that exert significant influence on the global carbon cycle. They can modulate the air‐sea flux of CO2 through the processes of photosynthesis and calcification and, as one of the primary contributors to the oceanic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global biogeochemical cycles 2019-11, Vol.33 (11), p.1328-1338
Main Authors: Hopkins, Jason, Henson, Stephanie A., Poulton, Alex J., Balch, William M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
Calcification
Calcite
Carbon
Carbon cycle
Carbon dioxide
coccolithophores
Faecal pellets
Great Calcite Belt
Gyres
Inorganic carbon
integrated global inventory
Interannual variability
Oceanic gyres
Organic carbon
particulate inorganic carbon
Photosynthesis
Phytoplankton
regional and seasonal variability of global PIC
remote sensing
Southern Hemisphere
Stock assessment
Stocks
Temporal variability
Temporal variations
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Summary:Coccolithophores are a biogeochemically important calcifying group of phytoplankton that exert significant influence on the global carbon cycle. They can modulate the air‐sea flux of CO2 through the processes of photosynthesis and calcification and, as one of the primary contributors to the oceanic particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) pool, promote the export of organic carbon to depth. Here we present the first interannually resolved, global analysis of PIC standing stock. Average, global PIC standing stock in the top 100 m is estimated to be 27.04 ± 4.33 Tg PIC, with turnover times of ~7 days, which suggests PIC is likely removed by active processes such as grazing or rapid sinking, mediated through biogenic packaging (i.e., fecal pellets). We find that the Southern Hemisphere plays a significant role in the variability in PIC inventories and that interannual variability in PIC standing stock is driven primarily by variability in the midlatitude oceanic gyres and regions within the Great Calcite Belt of the Southern Ocean. Our results provide a framework against which future changes in global PIC standing stocks may be assessed. Key Points Average global monthly PIC standing stock integrated over the top 100 m is estimated to be 27.04 Tg Average global PIC turnover rate is estimated to be on the order of 7 days The Great Calcite Belt region strongly influences the seasonal and interannual variability of the global PIC standing stock
ISSN:0886-6236
1944-9224
DOI:10.1029/2019GB006300