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Influence of light and temperature on the marine iron cycle: From theoretical to global modeling
Author(s) -
Tagliabue Alessandro,
Bopp Laurent,
Aumont Olivier,
Arrigo Kevin R.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/2008gb003214
Subject(s) - irradiance , biogeochemistry , phytoplankton , chemical oceanography , chemistry , biomass (ecology) , environmental chemistry , bioavailability , seawater , solar irradiance , industrial and production engineering , flux (metallurgy) , biogeochemical cycle , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , oceanography , nutrient , geology , biology , physics , paleontology , microorganism , bioinformatics , organic chemistry , engineering , quantum mechanics , microbial biodegradation , bacteria , electrical engineering
Iron regulates net primary production (NPP) in a number of ocean regions and exists in a variety of different forms in seawater, not all of which are bioavailable. We used a relatively complex iron cycle model to examine variability in iron speciation as a function of irradiance/temperature and parameterize its first‐order impact in a global ocean biogeochemistry model (OBM), which necessitated certain assumptions regarding the representation of iron chemistry. Overall, we find that higher irradiance (typical of shallower mixed layers) promotes the conversion of dissolved iron (dFe) into bioavailable forms (bFe) and increases bFe concentration by 5–53%, depending on parameter values. Temperature plays a secondary role in controlling bFe, with cold mixed layers increasing bFe concentrations. For a given irradiance and temperature, the presence of bioavailable Fe ligands increases bFe/dFe. When bioavailable Fe ligands are present, then reducing the photolability, increasing the log conditional stability, or increasing the concentration of such ligands all act to increase bFe/dFe. Such processes are currently not represented in global OBMs, where iron is typically parameterized as one pool, and we find that NPP can vary by >±20% regionally if the impact of temperature and irradiance on bFe is included, even under a constant circulation. Additionally, iron chemistry is important in controlling the depth over which phytoplankton iron limitation can be alleviated and the subsequent efficiency of iron‐based NPP. We also suggest organically complexed dFe must be bioavailable if distributions of phytoplankton biomass and macronutrients are to be reconciled with observations. Our results are important in understanding the role of the irradiance/mixing regime in governing the supply of iron to phytoplankton under a changing climate. New data sets on iron speciation and rate processes will aid in refining our model.