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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Oceans

 

Keywords

  • ocean pipes
  • geoengineering
  • phytoplankton
  • export production
  • biological pump

Index Terms

  • Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Biogeochemical cycles, processes, and modeling
  • Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Carbon cycling
  • Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Nutrients and nutrient cycling
  • Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Phytoplankton
  • Global Change: Biogeochemical cycles, processes, and modeling
Abstract
Cited By (6)
 

Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 114, C08009, 13 PP., 2009
doi:10.1029/2008JC004792

Low efficiency of nutrient translocation for enhancing oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide

Andrew Yool

National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, Southampton, UK

John G. Shepherd

National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, Southampton, UK

Harry L. Bryden

National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, Southampton, UK

Andreas Oschlies

Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences at University of Kiel (IFM-GEOMAR), Kiel, Germany

Anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) are steadily increasing the concentration of this greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere. The possible long-term consequences of this elevated concentration have led to proposals for a number of large-scale geoengineering schemes that aim to enhance or augment natural sinks for CO2. One such scheme proposes deploying a large number of floating “pipes” in the ocean that act to translocate nutrient-rich seawater from below the mixed layer to the ocean's surface: the nutrient supplied should enhance the growth of phytoplankton and consequently the export of organic carbon to the deep ocean via the biological pump. Here we examine the practical consequences of this scheme in a global ocean general circulation model that includes a nitrogen-based ecosystem and the biogeochemical cycle of carbon. While primary production is generally enhanced by the modeled pipes, as expected, the effect on the uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere is much smaller, may be negative, and shows considerable spatiotemporal variability.

Received 29 February 2008; accepted 28 May 2009; published 21 August 2009.

Citation: Yool, A., J. G. Shepherd, H. L. Bryden, and A. Oschlies (2009), Low efficiency of nutrient translocation for enhancing oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide, J. Geophys. Res., 114, C08009, doi:10.1029/2008JC004792.

Cited By

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