Net primary productivity estimates and environmental variables in the Arctic Ocean: An assessment of coupled physical-biogeochemical models

Lee, Younjoo J., Matrai, Patricia A., Friedrichs, Marjorie A. M., Saba, Vincent S., Aumont, Olivier, Babin, Marcel, Buitenhuis, Erik T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6274-5583, Chevallier, Matthieu, de Mora, Lee, Dessert, Morgane, Dunne, John P., Ellingsen, Ingrid, Feldman, Doron, Frouin, Robert, Gehlen, Marion, Gorgues, Thomas, Ilyina, Tatiana, Jin, Meibing, John, Jasmin G., Lawrence, Jonathan, Manizza, Manfredi, Menkes, Christophe Eugène, Perruche, Coralie, Le Fouest, Vincent, Popova, Ekaterina, Romanou, Anastasia, Schwinger, Jörg, Séférian, Roland, Stock, Charles A., Tjiputra, Jerry, Bruno Tremblay, L., Ueyoshi, Kyozo, Vichi, Marcello, Yool, Andrew, Zhang, Jinlun and Samuelsen, Annette (2016) Net primary productivity estimates and environmental variables in the Arctic Ocean: An assessment of coupled physical-biogeochemical models. Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, 121 (12). 8635–8669. ISSN 2169-9275

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Abstract

The relative skill of 21 regional and global biogeochemical models was assessed in terms of how well the models reproduced observed net primary productivity (NPP) and environmental variables such as nitrate concentration (NO3), mixed layer depth (MLD), euphotic layer depth (Zeu), and sea ice concentration, by comparing results against a newly updated, quality-controlled in situ NPP database for the Arctic Ocean (1959-2011). The models broadly captured the spatial features of integrated NPP (iNPP) on a pan-Arctic scale. Most models underestimated iNPP by varying degrees in spite of overestimating surface NO3, MLD, and Zeu throughout the regions. Among the models, iNPP exhibited little difference over sea ice condition (ice-free vs. ice-influenced) and bottom depth (shelf vs. deep ocean). The models performed relatively well for the most recent decade and towards the end of Arctic summer. In the Barents and Greenland Seas, regional model skill of surface NO3 was best associated with how well MLD was reproduced. . Regionally, iNPP was relatively well simulated in the Beaufort Sea and the central Arctic Basin, where in situ NPP is low and nutrients are mostly depleted. Models performed less well at simulating iNPP in the Greenland and Chukchi Seas, despite the higher model skill in MLD and sea ice concentration, respectively. iNPP model skill was constrained by different factors in different Arctic Ocean regions. Our study suggests that better parameterization of biological and ecological microbial rates (phytoplankton growth and zooplankton grazing) are needed for improved Arctic Ocean biogeochemical modeling.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Uncontrolled Keywords: arctic ocean,net primary productivity,model skill assessment,nutrients,coupled physical-biogeochemical models,earth system models
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 23 Nov 2016 00:36
Last Modified: 13 Apr 2023 13:51
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/61422
DOI: 10.1002/2016JC011993

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