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Modeling dissolved organic carbon and carbon export in the equatorial Pacific Ocean

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Abstract

The newly built CoSiNE-31 ecosystem model developed for the Pacific Ocean is employed here to evaluate carbon cycling in the equatorial Pacific upwelling region. This model explicitly includes 31 state variables capable of reproducing key biogeochemical features in this region, such as high-nutrient low-chlorophyll conditions. In the so-called Wyrtki Box (5°S–5°N, 90–180°W), the modeled area-averaged carbon export data show the predominance of the particulate organic carbon flux. This is consistent with observations, and amounts to 7.88 mmol C m–2 day–1 at the bottom of the euphotic zone (120 m water depth). Nearly as important is the dissolved organic carbon export flux, at 6.62 mmol C m–2 day–1. The modeled particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) export flux of 2.07 mmol C m–2 day–1 is much higher than the global average, indicating a key role of PIC sedimentation in the study region. The modeled carbon-to-nitrogen export ratio for particulate organic matter (POM) is 7.8, which is consistent with the Redfield ratio. The export ratio increases to 13.8 for dissolved organic matter (DOM). By implication, carbon export is markedly more efficient via DOM than via POM. This is the case also under simulated iron enrichment conditions, although there are measurable increases in carbon export efficiency for both DOM and POM.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams, the 100-Talent Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA11010203). Independent assessments by three anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China

    Na Liu, Lili Zeng & Peng Xiu

  2. Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA

    Yizhen Li

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Correspondence to Peng Xiu.

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Liu, N., Zeng, L., Li, Y. et al. Modeling dissolved organic carbon and carbon export in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Geo-Mar Lett 35, 119–133 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-014-0394-y

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