Modeling <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> variability in the Gulf of Mexico
A three-dimensional coupled physical–biogeochemical model was used to simulate and examine temporal and spatial variability of sea surface <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The model was driven by realistic atmospheric forcing, open boundary conditions from...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-08-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/4359/2016/bg-13-4359-2016.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818305179342077952 |
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| author | Z. Xue R. He K. Fennel W.-J. Cai S. Lohrenz W.-J. Huang H. Tian W. Ren Z. Zang |
| author_facet | Z. Xue R. He K. Fennel W.-J. Cai S. Lohrenz W.-J. Huang H. Tian W. Ren Z. Zang |
| author_sort | Z. Xue |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A three-dimensional coupled
physical–biogeochemical model was used to simulate and examine temporal and
spatial variability of sea surface <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM).
The model was driven by realistic atmospheric forcing, open boundary
conditions from a data-assimilative global ocean circulation model, and
observed freshwater and terrestrial nutrient and carbon input from major
rivers. A 7-year model hindcast (2004–2010) was performed and validated
against ship measurements. Model results revealed clear seasonality in
surface <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> and were used to estimate carbon budgets in the Gulf.
Based on the average of model simulations, the GoM was a net CO<sub>2</sub> sink
with a flux of 1.11 ± 0.84 × 10<sup>12</sup> mol C yr<sup>−1</sup>,
which, together with the enormous fluvial inorganic carbon input, was
comparable to the inorganic carbon export through the Loop Current. Two model
sensitivity experiments were performed: one without biological sources and
sinks and the other using river input from the 1904–1910 period as simulated
by the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model (DLEM). It was found that biological
uptake was the primary driver making GoM an overall CO<sub>2</sub> sink and that
the carbon flux in the northern GoM was very susceptible to changes in river
forcing. Large uncertainties in model simulations warrant further
process-based investigations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:22:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d21048d6bf1042c3823e5b3b084f5eb1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:22:28Z |
| publishDate | 2016-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biogeosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-d21048d6bf1042c3823e5b3b084f5eb12022-12-21T23:56:48ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892016-08-0113154359437710.5194/bg-13-4359-2016Modeling <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> variability in the Gulf of MexicoZ. Xue0R. He1K. Fennel2W.-J. Cai3S. Lohrenz4W.-J. Huang5H. Tian6W. Ren7Z. Zang8Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USADepartment of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USADepartment of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, CanadaSchool of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USASchool for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA, USADepartment of Oceanography, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, TaiwanSchool of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, AL, USADepartment of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USADepartment of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USAA three-dimensional coupled physical–biogeochemical model was used to simulate and examine temporal and spatial variability of sea surface <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The model was driven by realistic atmospheric forcing, open boundary conditions from a data-assimilative global ocean circulation model, and observed freshwater and terrestrial nutrient and carbon input from major rivers. A 7-year model hindcast (2004–2010) was performed and validated against ship measurements. Model results revealed clear seasonality in surface <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> and were used to estimate carbon budgets in the Gulf. Based on the average of model simulations, the GoM was a net CO<sub>2</sub> sink with a flux of 1.11 ± 0.84 × 10<sup>12</sup> mol C yr<sup>−1</sup>, which, together with the enormous fluvial inorganic carbon input, was comparable to the inorganic carbon export through the Loop Current. Two model sensitivity experiments were performed: one without biological sources and sinks and the other using river input from the 1904–1910 period as simulated by the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model (DLEM). It was found that biological uptake was the primary driver making GoM an overall CO<sub>2</sub> sink and that the carbon flux in the northern GoM was very susceptible to changes in river forcing. Large uncertainties in model simulations warrant further process-based investigations.http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/4359/2016/bg-13-4359-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Z. Xue R. He K. Fennel W.-J. Cai S. Lohrenz W.-J. Huang H. Tian W. Ren Z. Zang Modeling <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> variability in the Gulf of Mexico Biogeosciences |
| title | Modeling <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> variability in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_full | Modeling <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> variability in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Modeling <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> variability in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modeling <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> variability in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_short | Modeling <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> variability in the Gulf of Mexico |
| title_sort | modeling i p i co sub 2 sub variability in the gulf of mexico |
| url | http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/4359/2016/bg-13-4359-2016.pdf |
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