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Net community production and gross primary production rates in the western equatorial Pacific
Author(s) -
Stanley Rachel H. R.,
Kirkpatrick John B.,
Cassar Nicolas,
Barnett Bruce A.,
Bender Michael L.
Publication year - 2010
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 - 10.1029/2009gb003651
Subject(s) - primary production , equator , environmental science , carbon cycle , atmospheric sciences , oceanography , climatology , latitude , geology , ecosystem , ecology , geodesy , biology
Net community production (NCP) and gross primary production (GPP) are two key metrics for quantifying the biological carbon cycle. In this study, we present a detailed characterization of NCP and GPP in the western equatorial Pacific during August and September 2006. We use continuous measurements of dissolved gases (O 2 and Ar) in the surface water in order to quantify NCP at subkilometer scale resolution. We constrain GPP in discrete samples using the triple isotopic composition of O 2 . We find the average NCP in the western equatorial Pacific is 5.9 ± 0.9 mmol O 2 m −2 d −1 (equivalent to 1.5 ± 0.2 mol C m −2 yr −1 with error estimates reflecting 1 σ confidence levels) and the average GPP is 121 ± 34 mmol O 2 m −2 d −1 (equivalent to 32 ± 9 mol C m −2 yr −1 ). The measurements reveal significant spatial variability on length scales as small as 50 km. The NCP/GPP ratio is 5.7% ± 1.8%. We also present results for NCP and GPP in the coastal area off Papua New Guinea and for GPP in the central Pacific along the equator.