Open Ocean Particle Flux Variability From Surface to Seafloor

A synthesis of global particle export from the surface ocean and cycling through the ocean interior and on the seafloor

[1] We present a new synthesis of the oceanic cycles of organic carbon, silicon, and calcium carbonate. Our calculations are based on a series of algorithms starting with satellite-based primary production and continuing with conversion of primary production to sinking particle flux, penetration of particle flux to the deep sea, and accumulation in sediments. Regional and global budgets from th...

Surface ocean carbonate variability

Global surface-ocean pCO2 and sea-air CO2 flux variability from an observation-driven ocean mixed-layer scheme

A temporally and spatially resolved estimate of the global surface-ocean CO2 partial pressure field and the sea–air CO2 flux is presented, obtained by fitting a simple data-driven diagnostic model of ocean mixed-layer biogeochemistry to surface-ocean CO2 partial pressure data from the SOCAT v1.5 database. Results include seasonal, interannual, and short-term (daily) variations. In most regions,...

Long-term Variability of Ocean Surface Winds

Just a few decades ago, almost all ocean wind measurements came from merchant ships. However, the quality and geographical distribution of these wind reports were uneven. The quality of historical wind-stress have been well investigated [e.g., Cardone et al., 1990; Trenberth, et al, 1990; Kent et al., 1999]. Today, operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) also gives us wind information, b...

Uncertainty versus variability in upper ocean carbon flux estimates

The recent article written by Moran et al. (2003) (herein referred to as M2003) poses the question whether thorium234 (234Th) provides an accurate record of particulate organic carbon (POC) export from the upper ocean. Although there is little argument that 234Th : 238U disequilibrium can be attributed to particle flux, we agree that there are still many unknowns regarding the factors that cont...