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Decadal shift of biogenic sinking particle flux in the western North Pacific subpolar region
Author(s) -
Watanabe Yutaka W.,
Shigemitsu Masahito,
Ujiie Takashi,
Minami Hideki
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2013gl059142
Subject(s) - flux (metallurgy) , biogenic silica , oceanography , environmental science , seawater , particulates , particulate organic carbon , atmospheric sciences , geology , climatology , phytoplankton , diatom , chemistry , nutrient , ecology , biology , organic chemistry
Time series of biogenic sinking particle flux in the western North Pacific subpolar region over two decades (1989–2008) revealed that the biogenic CaCO 3 (CC) flux has shown a significant decreasing trend of 2.7% year −1 (annual average, −0.88 ± 0.13 mg m 2 day −1 year −1 ) along with the decreasing particulate organic carbon (POC) flux of 0.7% year −1 , while the biogenic opal (OP) flux had no long‐term trend. Comparing these results with the decreasing rate of satellite‐derived surface CC with −0.7% year −1 , we concluded that three fourths of the decreasing trend of CC flux was derived from the strengthening of CaCO 3 dissolution through seawater column due to the weakening of water ventilation and the rest was from the decline of CaCO 3 ‐shelled species, indicating the enhancement of the efficiency in oceanic sequestration of atmospheric CO 2 in the sea surface of this region due to the increase of OP/CC ratio.