Articles | Volume 22, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-71-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-71-2025
Research article
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08 Jan 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 08 Jan 2025

Particle fluxes by subtropical pelagic communities under ocean alkalinity enhancement

Philipp Suessle, Jan Taucher, Silvan Urs Goldenberg, Moritz Baumann, Kristian Spilling, Andrea Noche-Ferreira, Mari Vanharanta, and Ulf Riebesell

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Cited articles

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This paper examines the effects of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) on a key biogeochemical process: the biological carbon pump. The findings suggest that, under the conditions studied, the biological pump will largely remain unaffected by OAE. Gaining insights into how such interventions influence complex oceanographic processes at the ecosystem level is essential for assessing both the efficacy and safety of OAE.
Short summary
Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a negative emission technology which may alter marine communities and the particle export they drive. Here, impacts of carbonate-based OAE on the flux and attenuation of sinking particles in an oligotrophic plankton community are presented. Whilst biological parameters remained unaffected, abiotic carbonate precipitation occurred. Among counteracting OAE’s efficiency, it influenced mineral ballasting and particle sinking velocities, requiring monitoring.
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