Effect of Seychelles dome intensity on nutrient supply to the mixed layer: Insights from a coupled physical-biological model

2021 ◽  
pp. 103689
Author(s):  
Takaaki Yokoi ◽  
Shin-ichi Ito ◽  
Enrique Curchitser
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2877-2889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Clayton ◽  
Stephanie Dutkiewicz ◽  
Oliver Jahn ◽  
Christopher Hill ◽  
Patrick Heimbach ◽  
...  

Abstract. We present a systematic study of the differences generated by coupling the same ecological–biogeochemical model to a 1°, coarse-resolution, and 1∕6°, eddy-permitting, global ocean circulation model to (a) biogeochemistry (e.g., primary production) and (b) phytoplankton community structure. Surprisingly, we find that the modeled phytoplankton community is largely unchanged, with the same phenotypes dominating in both cases. Conversely, there are large regional and seasonal variations in primary production, phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass. In the subtropics, mixed layer depths (MLDs) are, on average, deeper in the eddy-permitting model, resulting in higher nutrient supply driving increases in primary production and phytoplankton biomass. In the higher latitudes, differences in winter mixed layer depths, the timing of the onset of the spring bloom and vertical nutrient supply result in lower primary production in the eddy-permitting model. Counterintuitively, this does not drive a decrease in phytoplankton biomass but results in lower zooplankton biomass. We explain these similarities and differences in the model using the framework of resource competition theory, and find that they are the consequence of changes in the regional and seasonal nutrient supply and light environment, mediated by differences in the modeled mixed layer depths. Although previous work has suggested that complex models may respond chaotically and unpredictably to changes in forcing, we find that our model responds in a predictable way to different ocean circulation forcing, despite its complexity. The use of frameworks, such as resource competition theory, provides a tractable way to explore the differences and similarities that occur. As this model has many similarities to other widely used biogeochemical models that also resolve multiple phytoplankton phenotypes, this study provides important insights into how the results of running these models under different physical conditions might be more easily understood.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Mathis ◽  
Uwe Mikolajewicz

Abstract. Projected future shoaling of the wintertime mixed layer in the Northeast (NE) Atlantic has been shown to induce a regime shift in the main nutrient supply pathway from the Atlantic to the Northwest European Shelf (NWES) near the end of the 21st century. While reduced winter convection leads to a substantial decrease in the vertical nutrient supply and biological productivity in the open ocean, vertical mixing processes at the shelf break maintain a connection to the subpycnocline nutrient pool and thus productivity on the shelf. Here we investigate how meltwater discharge from the Greenland ice sheet (GIS) not yet taken into account impacts the mixed layer shoaling and the regime shift in terms of spatial distribution and temporal variability. To this end we have downscaled sensitivity experiments by a global earth system model for various GIS melting rates with a regionally coupled ocean-atmosphere climate system model. The model results indicate that increasing GIS meltwater discharge leads to a general intensification of the regime shift. Atlantic subpycnocline water masses mixed up at the shelf break become richer in nutrients and thus limit the projected nutrient decline on the shelf. Moreover, the stronger vertical nutrient gradient through the pycnocline results in an enhanced interannual variability of on-shelf nutrient fluxes which, however, do not significantly increase variations in nutrient concentrations and primary production on the shelf. Moreover, due to the impact of the GIS meltwater discharge on the NE Atlantic mixed layer depth, the regime shift becomes initiated earlier in the century by about 1–2 decades, depending on the discharge rate. The effect on the onset timing, though, is found to be strongly damped by the weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. A GIS melting rate that is even 10 times higher than expected for emission scenario RCP8.5 would lead to an onset of the regime shift not until the 2070s.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mareike Körner ◽  
Peter Brandt ◽  
Marcus Dengler

<p>The Angolan shelf system represents a highly productive ecosystem that exhibits pronounced seasonal variability. Productivity peaks in austral winter when seasonally prevailing upwelling favorable winds are weakest. Thus, other processes than local wind-driven upwelling contribute to the near-coastal cooling and nutrient supply during this season. Possible processes that lead to changes of the mixed-layer heat content does not only include local mechanism but also the passage of remotely forced coastally trapped waves. Understanding the driving mechanism of changes in the mixed-layer heat content that may be locally or remotely forced are vital for understanding of upward nutrient supply and biological productivity off Angola. Here, we investigate the seasonal mixed layer heat budget by analyzing atmospheric and oceanic causes for heat content variability. We calculate monthly estimates of surface heat fluxes, horizontal advection from near-surface velocities, horizontal eddy advection, and vertical entrainment. Additionally, diapycnal heat fluxes at the mixed-layer base are determined from shipboard and glider microstructure data. The results are discussed in reference to the variability of the eastern boundary circulation, surface heat fluxes and wind forcing.</p>


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Clayton ◽  
Stephanie Dutkiewicz ◽  
Oliver Jahn ◽  
Christopher Hill ◽  
Patrick Heimbach ◽  
...  

Abstract. Regional and idealized modeling studies have shown that increasing the physical resolution of biogeochemical models to include mesoscale and submesoscale dynamics can result in both increases and decreases in phytoplankton biomass and primary production, as well as changes in phytoplankton community structure. Here we present a systematic study of the differences generated by coupling the same ecological-biogeochemical model to a 1°, coarse-resolution, and 1/6°, eddy-permitting, global ocean circulation model. Surprisingly, we find that the modeled phytoplankton community is largely unchanged, with the same phenotypes dominating in both cases. Conversely, there are large regional variations in integrated primary production, phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass. In the subtropics, mixed layer depths are, on average, deeper in the eddy-permitting model, resulting in higher nutrient supply driving increases in primary production and phytoplankton biomass. In the higher latitudes, deeper spring mixed layer depths in the eddy-permitting model result in increased light limitation during the spring bloom. Counter-intuitively, this does not drive a decrease in phytoplankton biomass, but is reflected in decreased primary production and zooplankton biomass. We explain these similarities and differences in the model using the framework of resource competition theory, and find that they are the consequence of changes in the regional and seasonal nutrient supply and light environment, mediated by differences in the modeled mixed layer depths. Although previous work has suggested that complex models may respond chaotically and unpredictably to changes in forcing, we find that our model responds in a predictable way to different ocean circulation forcing, despite its complexity.


Ocean Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-193
Author(s):  
Moritz Mathis ◽  
Uwe Mikolajewicz

Abstract. Projected future shoaling of the wintertime mixed layer in the northeast (NE) Atlantic has been shown to induce a regime shift in the main nutrient supply pathway from the Atlantic to the northwest European shelf (NWES) near the end of the 21st century. While reduced winter convection leads to a substantial decrease in the vertical nutrient supply and biological productivity in the open ocean, vertical mixing processes at the shelf break maintain a connection to the subpycnocline nutrient pool and thus productivity on the shelf. Here, we investigate how meltwater discharge from the Greenland ice sheet (GIS), not yet taken into account, impacts the mixed layer shoaling and the regime shift in terms of spatial distribution and temporal variability. To this end, we have downscaled sensitivity experiments by a global Earth system model for various GIS melting rates with a regionally coupled ocean–atmosphere climate system model. The model results indicate that increasing GIS meltwater discharge leads to a general intensification of the regime shift. Atlantic subpycnocline water masses mixed up at the shelf break become richer in nutrients and thus further limit the projected nutrient decline on the shelf. Moreover, the stronger vertical nutrient gradient through the pycnocline results in an enhanced interannual variability of on-shelf nutrient fluxes which, however, do not significantly increase variations in nutrient concentrations and primary production on the shelf. Due to the impact of the GIS meltwater discharge on the NE Atlantic mixed layer depth, the regime shift becomes initiated earlier in the century. The effect on the onset timing, though, is found to be strongly damped by the weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. A GIS melting rate that is even 10 times higher than expected for emission scenario Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 would not lead to an onset of the regime shift until the 2070s.


2020 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 47-58
Author(s):  
Y Jiang ◽  
Y Liu

Various studies have observed that increased nutrient supply promotes the growth of bloom-forming cyanobacteria, but only a limited number of studies have investigated the influence of increased nutrient supply on bloom-forming cyanobacteria at the proteomic level. We investigated the cellular and proteomic responses of Microcystis aeruginosa to elevated nitrogen and phosphorus supply. Increased supply of both nutrients significantly promoted the growth of M. aeruginosa and the synthesis of chlorophyll a, protein, and microcystins. The release of microcystins and the synthesis of polysaccharides negatively correlated with the growth of M. aeruginosa under high nutrient levels. Overexpressed proteins related to photosynthesis, and amino acid synthesis, were responsible for the stimulatory effects of increased nutrient supply in M. aeruginosa. Increased nitrogen supply directly promoted cyanobacterial growth by inducing the overexpression of the cell division regulatory protein FtsZ. NtcA, that regulates gene transcription related to both nitrogen assimilation and microcystin synthesis, was overexpressed under the high nitrogen condition, which consequently induced overexpression of 2 microcystin synthetases (McyC and McyF) and promoted microcystin synthesis. Elevated nitrogen supply induced the overexpression of proteins involved in gas vesicle organization (GvpC and GvpW), which may increase the buoyancy of M. aeruginosa. Increased phosphorus level indirectly affected growth and the synthesis of cellular substances in M. aeruginosa through the mediation of differentially expressed proteins related to carbon and phosphorus metabolism. This study provides a comprehensive description of changes in the proteome of M. aeruginosa in response to an increased supply of 2 key nutrients.


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