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Sea-ice derived meltwater stratification slows the biological carbon pump: results from continuous observations

Author

Listed:
  • Wilken-Jon von Appen

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Anya M. Waite

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Dalhousie University)

  • Melanie Bergmann

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Christina Bienhold

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Olaf Boebel

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Astrid Bracher

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    University of Bremen)

  • Boris Cisewski

    (Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries)

  • Jonas Hagemann

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Mario Hoppema

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Morten H. Iversen

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    MARUM, University of Bremen)

  • Christian Konrad

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    MARUM, University of Bremen)

  • Thomas Krumpen

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Normen Lochthofen

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Katja Metfies

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Barbara Niehoff

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Eva-Maria Nöthig

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Autun Purser

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Ian Salter

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Faroe Marine Research Institute)

  • Matthias Schaber

    (Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries)

  • Daniel Scholz

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Thomas Soltwedel

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Sinhue Torres-Valdes

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Claudia Wekerle

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Frank Wenzhöfer

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Matthias Wietz

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Antje Boetius

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
    MARUM, University of Bremen)

Abstract

The ocean moderates the world’s climate through absorption of heat and carbon, but how much carbon the ocean will continue to absorb remains unknown. The North Atlantic Ocean west (Baffin Bay/Labrador Sea) and east (Fram Strait/Greenland Sea) of Greenland features the most intense absorption of anthropogenic carbon globally; the biological carbon pump (BCP) contributes substantially. As Arctic sea-ice melts, the BCP changes, impacting global climate and other critical ocean attributes (e.g. biodiversity). Full understanding requires year-round observations across a range of ice conditions. Here we present such observations: autonomously collected Eulerian continuous 24-month time-series in Fram Strait. We show that, compared to ice-unaffected conditions, sea-ice derived meltwater stratification slows the BCP by 4 months, a shift from an export to a retention system, with measurable impacts on benthic communities. This has implications for ecosystem dynamics in the future warmer Arctic where the seasonal ice zone is expected to expand.

Suggested Citation

  • Wilken-Jon von Appen & Anya M. Waite & Melanie Bergmann & Christina Bienhold & Olaf Boebel & Astrid Bracher & Boris Cisewski & Jonas Hagemann & Mario Hoppema & Morten H. Iversen & Christian Konrad & T, 2021. "Sea-ice derived meltwater stratification slows the biological carbon pump: results from continuous observations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-26943-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26943-z
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