Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-34
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-34
16 Feb 2023
 | 16 Feb 2023
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal BG.

Reconstructing the ocean’s mesopelagic zone carbon budget: sensitivity and estimation of parameters associated with prokaryotic remineralization

Chloé Baumas, Robin Fuchs, Marc Garel, Jean-Christophe Poggiale, Laurent Memery, Frédéric A. C. Le Moigne, and Christian Tamburini

Abstract. Through the constant rain of sinking marine particles in the ocean, carbon (C) trapped within is exported into the water column and sequestered when reaching depths below the mesopelagic zone. Atmospheric CO2 levels are thereby strongly related to the magnitude of carbon export fluxes in the mesopelagic zone. Sinking particles represent the main source of carbon and energy for mesopelagic organisms, attenuating the C export flux along the water column. Attempts to quantify the amount of C exported versus consumed by heterotrophic organisms have increased in recent decades. Yet, most of the conducted estimations have led to estimated C demands several times higher than the measured C export fluxes. The choice of parameters such as growth efficiencies or various conversion factors is known to greatly impact the resulting C budget. In parallel, field or experimental data are sorely lacking to obtain accurate values of these crucial overlooked parameters. In this study, we identify the most influential of these parameters and perform inversion of a mechanistic model. Further, we determine the optimal parameter values as the ones that best explain the observed prokaryotic respiration, the prokaryotic production, and the zooplankton respirations. The consistency of the resulting C-budget suggests that such budgets can be adequately balanced when using appropriate parameters.

Chloé Baumas et al.

Status: open (until 21 Apr 2023)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse

Chloé Baumas et al.

Chloé Baumas et al.

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Short summary
Through the sink of particles in the ocean, carbon (C) is exported and sequestered when reaching 1000 m. Attempts to quantify the C exported versus consumed by heterotrophs have increased. Yet, most of the conducted estimations have led to C demands several times higher than C export. The choice of parameters greatly impact the results. As theses parameters are overlooked, non-accurate values are often used. In this study we show that C budgets can be well balanced when using appropriate values.
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