Assessing the apparent imbalance between geochemical and biochemical indicators of meso- and bathypelagic biological activity: What the @#! is wrong with present calculations of carbon budgets?

Burd, Adrian B., Hansell, Dennis A., Steinberg, Deborah K., Anderson, Thomas R., Arístegui, Javier, Baltar, Federico, Beaupre, Steven R., Buesseler, Ken O., DeHairs, Frank, Jackson, George A., Kadko, David C., Koppelmann, Rolf, Lampitt, Richard S., Nagata, Toshi, Reinthaler, Thomas, Robinson, Carol ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3033-4565, Robison, Bruce H., Tamburini, Christian and Tanaka, Tsuneo (2010) Assessing the apparent imbalance between geochemical and biochemical indicators of meso- and bathypelagic biological activity: What the @#! is wrong with present calculations of carbon budgets? Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 57 (16). pp. 1557-1571. ISSN 1879-0100

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Abstract

Metabolic activity in the water column below the euphotic zone is ultimately fuelled by the vertical flux of organic material from the surface. Over time, the deep ocean is presumably at steady state, with sources and sinks balanced. But recently compiled global budgets and intensive local field studies suggest that estimates of metabolic activity in the dark ocean exceed the influx of organic substrates. This imbalance indicates either the existence of unaccounted sources of organic carbon or that metabolic activity in the dark ocean is being over-estimated. Budgets of organic carbon flux and metabolic activity in the dark ocean have uncertainties associated with environmental variability, measurement capabilities, conversion parameters, and processes that are not well sampled. We present these issues and quantify associated uncertainties where possible, using a Monte Carlo analysis of a published data set to determine the probability that the imbalance can be explained purely by uncertainties in measurements and conversion factors. A sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the bacterial growth efficiencies and assumed cell carbon contents have the greatest effects on the magnitude of the carbon imbalance. Two poorly quantified sources, lateral advection of particles and a population of slowly settling particles, are discussed as providing a means of closing regional carbon budgets. Finally, we make recommendations concerning future research directions to reduce important uncertainties and allow a better determination of the magnitude and causes of the unbalanced carbon budgets.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Resources, Sustainability and Governance (former - to 2018) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Depositing User:	Rosie Cullington
Date Deposited:	28 Jan 2011 14:33
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 09:31
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/20251
DOI:	10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.02.022

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