Complexity in biogeochemical models: consequences for the biological carbon pump

Rogerson, Jonathan; Tagliabue, Alessandro; Nguyen, Agathe; Vichi, Marcello; Wrightson, Lewis; Anugerahanti, Prima; Aumont, Olivier; Gehlen, Marion

doi:10.5194/bg-23-3179-2026

Articles | Volume 23, issue 9

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-3179-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-3179-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 23, issue 9

Research article

|

08 May 2026

Research article |

| 08 May 2026

Complexity in biogeochemical models: consequences for the biological carbon pump

Jonathan Rogerson, Alessandro Tagliabue, Agathe Nguyen, Marcello Vichi, Lewis Wrightson, Prima Anugerahanti, Olivier Aumont, and Marion Gehlen

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-3179-2026-supplement

Data sets

Net primary production from the Eppley-VGPM, Behrenfeld-VGPM, Behrenfeld-CbPM, Westberry-CbPM and Silsbe-CAFE algorithms (1.1) Tommy Ryan-Keogh et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8314348

Global Ocean OSTIA Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Reprocessed CMEMS (Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service) https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00168

Model code and software

RGRJON002/Complexity_in_Biogeochemical_Models_BCP_Rogerson J. Rogerson https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19843389

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Short summary

We use five different versions of a biogeochemical model to show that how phytoplankton growth processes are represented strongly shapes projections of future ocean productivity and carbon export. Added model complexity does not have a uniform global effect as some new processes mainly influence specific ocean regions, while others, such as an additional small phytoplankton type, lead to large intramodel differences in future trends and latitudinal patterns of productivity and carbon export.