A probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern ocean
The marine cycle of calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) is an important element of the carbon cycle and co-governs the distribution of carbon and alkalinity within the ocean. However, CaCO<sub>3</sub> export fluxes and mechanisms governing CaCO<sub>3</sub> dissol...
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doaj-2e979bc700f74adf8fee65c799cf8bb62020-11-24T20:53:01ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892016-05-011392823284810.5194/bg-13-2823-2016A probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern oceanG. Battaglia0M. Steinacher1F. Joos2Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandThe marine cycle of calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) is an important element of the carbon cycle and co-governs the distribution of carbon and alkalinity within the ocean. However, CaCO<sub>3</sub> export fluxes and mechanisms governing CaCO<sub>3</sub> dissolution are highly uncertain. We present an observationally constrained, probabilistic assessment of the global and regional CaCO<sub>3</sub> budgets. Parameters governing pelagic CaCO<sub>3</sub> export fluxes and dissolution rates are sampled using a Monte Carlo scheme to construct a 1000-member ensemble with the Bern3D ocean model. Ensemble results are constrained by comparing simulated and observation-based fields of excess dissolved calcium carbonate (TA*). The minerals calcite and aragonite are modelled explicitly and ocean–sediment fluxes are considered. For local dissolution rates, either a strong or a weak dependency on CaCO<sub>3</sub> saturation is assumed. In addition, there is the option to have saturation-independent dissolution above the saturation horizon. The median (and 68 % confidence interval) of the constrained model ensemble for global biogenic CaCO<sub>3</sub> export is 0.90 (0.72–1.05) Gt C yr<sup>−1</sup>, that is within the lower half of previously published estimates (0.4–1.8 Gt C yr<sup>−1</sup>). The spatial pattern of CaCO<sub>3</sub> export is broadly consistent with earlier assessments. Export is large in the Southern Ocean, the tropical Indo–Pacific, the northern Pacific and relatively small in the Atlantic. The constrained results are robust across a range of diapycnal mixing coefficients and, thus, ocean circulation strengths. Modelled ocean circulation and transport timescales for the different set-ups were further evaluated with CFC11 and radiocarbon observations. Parameters and mechanisms governing dissolution are hardly constrained by either the TA* data or the current compilation of CaCO<sub>3</sub> flux measurements such that model realisations with and without saturation-dependent dissolution achieve skill. We suggest applying saturation-independent dissolution rates in Earth system models to minimise computational costs.http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/2823/2016/bg-13-2823-2016.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
G. Battaglia M. Steinacher F. Joos |
spellingShingle |
G. Battaglia M. Steinacher F. Joos A probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern ocean Biogeosciences |
author_facet |
G. Battaglia M. Steinacher F. Joos |
author_sort |
G. Battaglia |
title |
A probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern ocean |
title_short |
A probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern ocean |
title_full |
A probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern ocean |
title_fullStr |
A probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern ocean |
title_full_unstemmed |
A probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern ocean |
title_sort |
a probabilistic assessment of calcium carbonate export and dissolution in the modern ocean |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Biogeosciences |
issn |
1726-4170 1726-4189 |
publishDate |
2016-05-01 |
description |
The marine cycle of calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) is an important
element of the carbon cycle and co-governs the distribution of carbon
and alkalinity within the ocean. However, CaCO<sub>3</sub> export fluxes and
mechanisms governing CaCO<sub>3</sub> dissolution are highly uncertain.
We present an observationally constrained, probabilistic assessment of
the global and regional CaCO<sub>3</sub> budgets. Parameters governing
pelagic CaCO<sub>3</sub> export fluxes and dissolution rates are sampled
using a Monte Carlo scheme to construct a 1000-member ensemble
with the Bern3D ocean model. Ensemble results are constrained by
comparing simulated and observation-based fields of excess dissolved
calcium carbonate (TA*). The minerals calcite and aragonite are
modelled explicitly and ocean–sediment fluxes are considered. For
local dissolution rates, either a strong or a weak dependency on CaCO<sub>3</sub> saturation is assumed.
In addition, there is the option to have saturation-independent dissolution above the saturation horizon.
The median (and 68 % confidence
interval) of the constrained model ensemble for global biogenic CaCO<sub>3</sub> export is 0.90
(0.72–1.05) Gt C yr<sup>−1</sup>, that is within the lower half of
previously published estimates
(0.4–1.8 Gt C yr<sup>−1</sup>). The spatial pattern of
CaCO<sub>3</sub> export is broadly consistent with earlier
assessments. Export is large in the Southern Ocean, the tropical
Indo–Pacific, the northern Pacific and relatively small in the
Atlantic.
The constrained results are robust across a range of diapycnal mixing coefficients and, thus,
ocean circulation strengths. Modelled ocean circulation and transport
timescales for the different set-ups were further evaluated with CFC11
and radiocarbon observations. Parameters and mechanisms governing
dissolution are hardly constrained by either the TA* data or the
current compilation of CaCO<sub>3</sub> flux measurements such that model
realisations with and without saturation-dependent dissolution achieve
skill. We suggest applying saturation-independent dissolution rates in
Earth system models to minimise computational costs. |
url |
http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/2823/2016/bg-13-2823-2016.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT gbattaglia aprobabilisticassessmentofcalciumcarbonateexportanddissolutioninthemodernocean AT msteinacher aprobabilisticassessmentofcalciumcarbonateexportanddissolutioninthemodernocean AT fjoos aprobabilisticassessmentofcalciumcarbonateexportanddissolutioninthemodernocean |
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1716798329306742784 |