Spatial and Temporal Interplay Between Oceanic Circulation and Biological Production in Shaping Carbon Export Off the California Coast
Abstract A major challenge in understanding the oceanic carbon cycle is estimating the sinking flux of organic carbon exiting the sunlit surface ocean, termed carbon export. Existing algorithms derive carbon export from satellite ocean color, but neglect spatiotemporal offsets created by the tempora...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113707 |
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| author | M. Messié C. L. Huffard M. R. Stukel H. A. Ruhl |
| author_facet | M. Messié C. L. Huffard M. R. Stukel H. A. Ruhl |
| author_sort | M. Messié |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A major challenge in understanding the oceanic carbon cycle is estimating the sinking flux of organic carbon exiting the sunlit surface ocean, termed carbon export. Existing algorithms derive carbon export from satellite ocean color, but neglect spatiotemporal offsets created by the temporal lag between production and export, and by horizontal advection. Here, we show that a Lagrangian “growth‐advection” (GA) satellite‐derived product, where plankton succession and export are mapped onto surface oceanic circulation following coastal upwelling, succeeds in representing in situ export off the California coast. In situ export is best represented by a combination of GA export (proportional to modeled zooplankton) and export derived from ocean color (related to local phytoplankton). Both products also correlate with a long‐term time series of abyssal carbon flux. These results provide insights on export spatiotemporal patterns and a path toward improving satellite‐derived carbon export in the California Current and beyond. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6593fba49bee4fe4b8f007c5a7c59e20 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-6593fba49bee4fe4b8f007c5a7c59e202025-08-20T01:51:50ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01527n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113707Spatial and Temporal Interplay Between Oceanic Circulation and Biological Production in Shaping Carbon Export Off the California CoastM. Messié0C. L. Huffard1M. R. Stukel2H. A. Ruhl3Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Moss Landing CA USAMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Moss Landing CA USAFlorida State University Tallahassee FL USAMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Moss Landing CA USAAbstract A major challenge in understanding the oceanic carbon cycle is estimating the sinking flux of organic carbon exiting the sunlit surface ocean, termed carbon export. Existing algorithms derive carbon export from satellite ocean color, but neglect spatiotemporal offsets created by the temporal lag between production and export, and by horizontal advection. Here, we show that a Lagrangian “growth‐advection” (GA) satellite‐derived product, where plankton succession and export are mapped onto surface oceanic circulation following coastal upwelling, succeeds in representing in situ export off the California coast. In situ export is best represented by a combination of GA export (proportional to modeled zooplankton) and export derived from ocean color (related to local phytoplankton). Both products also correlate with a long‐term time series of abyssal carbon flux. These results provide insights on export spatiotemporal patterns and a path toward improving satellite‐derived carbon export in the California Current and beyond.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113707carbon exportupwelling systemsoceanic advectionplanktonremote sensingmodeling |
| spellingShingle | M. Messié C. L. Huffard M. R. Stukel H. A. Ruhl Spatial and Temporal Interplay Between Oceanic Circulation and Biological Production in Shaping Carbon Export Off the California Coast Geophysical Research Letters carbon export upwelling systems oceanic advection plankton remote sensing modeling |
| title | Spatial and Temporal Interplay Between Oceanic Circulation and Biological Production in Shaping Carbon Export Off the California Coast |
| title_full | Spatial and Temporal Interplay Between Oceanic Circulation and Biological Production in Shaping Carbon Export Off the California Coast |
| title_fullStr | Spatial and Temporal Interplay Between Oceanic Circulation and Biological Production in Shaping Carbon Export Off the California Coast |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial and Temporal Interplay Between Oceanic Circulation and Biological Production in Shaping Carbon Export Off the California Coast |
| title_short | Spatial and Temporal Interplay Between Oceanic Circulation and Biological Production in Shaping Carbon Export Off the California Coast |
| title_sort | spatial and temporal interplay between oceanic circulation and biological production in shaping carbon export off the california coast |
| topic | carbon export upwelling systems oceanic advection plankton remote sensing modeling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113707 |
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