Regional patterns in current and future export production in the central Arctic Ocean quantified from nitrate fluxes. Issue 16 (24th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Randelhoff, Achim; Guthrie, John D.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 43:Issue 16(2016)
• Page Start: 8600
• Page End: 8608
• Publication Date: 2016-08-24
• Subjects: central Arctic Ocean -- nitrate -- export production -- turbulence; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2016GL070252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Due to severe nutrient and light limitation, the central Arctic Ocean has been characterized as a region of low primary productivity, with high retention of carbon in the surface waters. Using an in‐depth analysis of published and new measurements of turbulent microstructure and high‐resolution profiles of nitrate concentration, we reassess the vertical supply of nitrate to the Polar Mixed Layer and the associated export of particulate organic matter across the nitracline. We estimate annual export production to be approximately 1.5–3 g C m −2, but regional differences in both current and future potential of export production are large, with the eastern Arctic being least constrained by vertical nutrient supply and the western Arctic the most. Future changes in export production are assessed using a 1‐D budget model; increases in the Atlantic sector are possibly compensated by decreases in the rest of the central Arctic Ocean such that the net change might be insignificant. Key Points: Vertical nitrate flux contributes significantly to current CAO export production Regional differences in turbulent mixing and stratification lead to varying responses of primary production to climate change across the CAO Future increases in Atlantic sector EP possibly offset by reduced nitrate fluxes in other CAO regions