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Impact of a shrinking Arctic ice cover on marine primary production
Author(s) -
Arrigo Kevin R.,
van Dijken Gert,
Pabi Sudeshna
Publication year - 2008
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 - 10.1029/2008gl035028
Subject(s) - sea ice , oceanography , environmental science , arctic ice pack , arctic , pelagic zone , arctic sea ice decline , primary production , benthic zone , cryosphere , arctic geoengineering , antarctic sea ice , climatology , ecosystem , geology , ecology , biology
Loss of Arctic sea ice has accelerated recently, culminating in a 2007 summer minimum ice extent that was 23% below the previous low. To quantify the impact of this unprecedented loss of ice on marine primary production, we have coupled satellite‐derived sea ice, SST, and chlorophyll to a primary production algorithm parameterized for Arctic waters. Annual primary production in the Arctic has increased yearly by an average of 27.5 Tg C yr −1 since 2003 and by 35 Tg C yr −1 between 2006 and 2007. 30% of this increase is attributable to decreased minimum summer ice extent and 70% to a longer phytoplankton growing season. Should these trends continue, additional loss of ice during Arctic spring could boost productivity >3‐fold above 1998–2002 levels, potentially altering marine ecosystem structure and the degree of pelagic‐benthic coupling. Changes in carbon export could in turn modify benthic denitrification on the vast continental shelves.