outlinecoastalzoneimpactsonglobalbiogeochemistry（16页）.docVIP

Coastal zone impacts on global biogeochemistry: Topic # 1: How do different coastal zones impact the carbon cycle? Contributed by: I. Faloona, T. Lueker, S. Nandi, R. Shipe, D. Varela, L.Ver General Information Identification of importance of coastal zones by two main carbon cycle documents: North American Carbon Plan (NACP) and the Ocean Carbon Climate Change (OCCC). Ship-based studies in the East China Sea [Tsunogai et al., 1999] and off the West Coast of Europe [Frankignoulle et al., 2001] have suggested that the coastal ocean plays a significant role in the global carbon cycle (Frankignoulle et al. estimate the European coastal sink to be almost half as large as that proposed for the open North Atlantic). 1. Nitrogen cycle Riverine inputs are on par with wet deposition in-situ fixation Benthic denitrification in CZ is dominant removal of bioavailable N There is a tight coupling between the cycles of C and N (and Si) during massive blooms and export events. 2. Other nutrient cycles S DIC P Fe: Synoptic scale transport to and fertilization of open ocean Si: Under eutrophic conditions, the coastal phytoplankton community is dominated by diatoms. These unicellular protists require Si for growth (C:Si ~ 106:16) 3. Physical forcing/hydrological cycle Coastal upwelling, synoptic semi permanent H pressure, Ekman pumping Boundary currents (great distinction between Eastern/Western) corresponding eddy transport processes Influence of large-scale climate oscillations such as ENSO, NAO, etc. Increase in stratification of coastal waters thought to affect nutrient abundance and supply to mixed layer (in Gulf of Alaska study) 4. Important regions Upwelling regions (N. California Coast, and similar regions in S. Pacific, S. Atlantic): responsible for ~50% of world’s fish catch Deepwater delivers large pCO2 (source) as well as nutrients which instigate large biological blooms (sinks) M