Mechanisms controlling the air-sea CO2 flux in the North Sea
Prowe, A.E.F.; Thomas, H.; Patsch, J.; Kuhn, W.; Bozec, Y.; Schiettecatte, L.S.; Borges, A.V.; de Baar, H.J.W. (2009). Mechanisms controlling the air-sea CO2 flux in the North Sea. Cont. Shelf Res. 29(15): 1801-1808. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2009.06.003 In: Continental Shelf Research. Pergamon Press: Oxford; New York. ISSN 0278-4343; e-ISSN 1873-6955, more |  |
| Keyword | | | Author keywords | CO2<; sub> air-sea flux; Continental shelf pump; Biogeochemical modelling; |
| Authors | | Top | - Prowe, A.E.F.
- Thomas, H.
- Patsch, J.
- Kuhn, W.
| - Bozec, Y.
- Schiettecatte, L.S., more
- Borges, A.V., more
- de Baar, H.J.W.
| |
| Abstract | The mechanisms driving the air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the North Sea are investigated using the three-dimensional coupled physical-biogeochemical model ECOHAM (ECOlogical-model, HAMburg). We validate our simulations using field data for the years 2001-2002 and identify the controls of the air-sea CO2 flux for two locations representative for the North Sea's biogeochemical provinces. In the seasonally stratified northern region, net CO2 uptake is high (2: 06 mol m-2 a-1) due to high net community production (NCP) in the surface water. Overflow production releasing semi-labile dissolved organic carbon needs to be considered for a realistic simulation of the low dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations observed during summer. This biologically driven carbon drawdown outcompetes the temperature-driven rise in CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) during the productive season. In contrast, the permanently mixed southern region is a weak net CO2 source (0:78 mol m-2 a-1). NCP is generally low except for the spring bloom because remineralization parallels primary production. Here, the pCO2 appears to be controlled by temperature. |
|
