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Mechanisms controlling the air-sea CO2 flux in the North Sea
Prowe, A.E.F.; Thomas, H.; Patsch, J.; Kuhn, W.; Bozec, Y.; Schiettecatte, L.S.; Borges, A.V.; de Baar, H.J.W. (2009). Mechanisms controlling the air-sea CO2 flux in the North Sea. Cont. Shelf Res. 29(15): 1801-1808. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2009.06.003
In: Continental Shelf Research. Pergamon Press: Oxford; New York. ISSN 0278-4343; e-ISSN 1873-6955, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    CO2<; sub> air-sea flux; Continental shelf pump; Biogeochemical modelling;

Authors  Top 
  • Prowe, A.E.F.
  • Thomas, H.
  • Patsch, J.
  • Kuhn, W.
  • Bozec, Y.
  • Schiettecatte, L.S., more
  • Borges, A.V., more
  • de Baar, H.J.W.

Abstract
    The mechanisms driving the air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the North Sea are investigated using the three-dimensional coupled physical-biogeochemical model ECOHAM (ECOlogical-model, HAMburg). We validate our simulations using field data for the years 2001-2002 and identify the controls of the air-sea CO2 flux for two locations representative for the North Sea's biogeochemical provinces. In the seasonally stratified northern region, net CO2 uptake is high (2: 06 mol m-2 a-1) due to high net community production (NCP) in the surface water. Overflow production releasing semi-labile dissolved organic carbon needs to be considered for a realistic simulation of the low dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations observed during summer. This biologically driven carbon drawdown outcompetes the temperature-driven rise in CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) during the productive season. In contrast, the permanently mixed southern region is a weak net CO2 source (0:78 mol m-2 a-1). NCP is generally low except for the spring bloom because remineralization parallels primary production. Here, the pCO2 appears to be controlled by temperature.

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