• Browse
    • Author
    • Year
    • Platform
    • Organizations
    • Programs
    • Research Networks
    • Type
  • Search
    • Simple
    • Advanced
  • About
    • About
    • Policies
    • Citation Guide
  • Login
    Logo Alfred Wegener Institut
    Logo Alfred Wegener Institut
    Alfred-Wegener-Institut
    Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-
    und Meeresforschung
    • Imprint
    • Contact
    • OAI
    • RSS 2.0

    EPIC.awi.de

    Home
    • Browse
      • Author
      • Year
      • Platform
      • Organizations
      • Programs
      • Research Networks
      • Type
    • Search
      • Simple
      • Advanced
    • About
      • About
      • Policies
      • Citation Guide
    • Login
      Login

      The effect of vertical and horizontal dilution on fertilized patch experiments

      Edit Item Edit Item

      General Information:

      Citation:
      Ianson, D. , Völker, C. , Denman, K. L. , Kunze, E. and Steiner, N. (2012): The effect of vertical and horizontal dilution on fertilized patch experiments , Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 26 , GB3002:1-14 . doi: 10.1029/2010GB004008
      Cite this page as:
      hdl:10013/epic.39797
      DOI:
      https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GB004008
      Contact Email:
      Christoph.Voelker@awi.de
      Related Data:

      Download:

      [img]
      Preview
      PDF
      2010GB004008-pip.pdf

      Download (683kB) | Preview
      Cite this document as:
      hdl:10013/epic.39797.d001
      Abstract:

      A great deal of attention, both negative and positive, has been directed at the potential of large-scale iron fertilization schemes to sequester carbon by inducing phytoplankton blooms that would, in theory, result in significant export of organic carbon to the deep ocean in high nitrogen - low chlorophyll regions. A suite of iron manipulation or `patch' experiments have been performed over length-scales of 10s of km. Here, we use a physical-ecological-chemical model, with prognostic nitrogen, silica and iron dynamics, to study one of the most successful of these experiments,the Subarctic Ecosystem Response to Iron Enrichment Study (SERIES), focusing on the vertical export of organic material, which is difficult to observe in the field. The implications of large-scale fertilization, i.e. increasing patch size, are investigated. Our results agree with the general conclusions obtained from the field experiments. Only a modest export of organic carbon occurs (less than 25% of carbon uptake by phytoplankton) at the base of the mixed layer. Furthermore, we show that lateral and vertical supply of silicic acid is necessary to fuel a sustained phytoplankton bloom. Increasing patch size results in less lateral nutrient supply relative to patch area and so a decrease, not only in total production (per unit area), but in the contribution by large phytoplankton due to silica limitation. Most importantly, the export of organic carbon (per unit area) decreases substantially, by nearly an order of magnitude as scales of 1000 km are approached.

      Further Details:

      Item Type:
      Article
      Authors:
      Ianson, Debby ; Völker, Christoph ; Denman, Kenneth L. ; Kunze, Eric ; Steiner, Nadja
      Divisions:
      AWI Organizations > Biosciences > BioGeoScience
      Programs:
      Helmholtz Research Programs > PACES I (2009-2013) > TOPIC 4: Synthesis: The Earth System from a Polar Perspective > WP 4.1: Current and Future Changes of the Earth System
      Eprint ID:
      30591
      Logo Alfred Wegener Institut
      Alfred-Wegener-Institut
      Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-
      und Meeresforschung
      Logo Helmholtz

      • Browse
        • Author
        • Year
        • Platform
        • Organizations
        • Programs
        • Research Networks
        • Type
      • Search
        • Simple
        • Advanced
      • About
        • About
        • Policies
        • Citation Guide
      • Imprint
      • Contact
      • OAI
      © Alfred-Wegener-Institut