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Abstract

The biogeochemistry of the ocean exerts a strong influence on the climate by modulating atmospheric greenhouse gases. In turn, ocean biogeochemistry depends on numerous physical and biological processes that change over space and time. Accurately simulating these processes is fundamental for accurately simulating the ocean's role within the climate. However, our simulation of these processes is often simplistic, despite a growing understanding of underlying biological dynamics. Here we explore how new parameterizations of biological processes affect simulated biogeochemical properties in a global ocean model. We combine 6 different physical realizations with 6 different biogeochemical parameterizations (36 unique ocean states). The biogeochemical parameterizations, all previously published, aim to more accurately represent the response of ocean biology to changing physical conditions. We make three major findings. First, oxygen, carbon, alkalinity, and phosphate fields are more sensitive to changes in the ocean's physical state. Only nitrate is more sensitive to changes in biological processes, and we suggest that assessment protocols for ocean biogeochemical models formally include the marine nitrogen cycle to assess their performance. Second, we show that dynamic variations in the production, remineralization, and stoichiometry of organic matter in response to changing environmental conditions benefit the simulation of ocean biogeochemistry. Third, dynamic biological functioning reduces the sensitivity of biogeochemical properties to physical change. Carbon and nitrogen inventories were 50% and 20% less sensitive to physical changes, respectively, in simulations that incorporated dynamic biological functioning. These results highlight the importance of a dynamic biology for ocean properties and climate.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Buchanan, PJ and Matear, RJ and Chase, Z and Phipps, SJ and Bindoff, NL
Keywords:	nitrate, ocean biogeochemistry, model, nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, marine ecosystem, phytoplankton, carbon dioxide, climate change
Journal or Publication Title:	Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Publisher:	American Geophysical Union
ISSN:	0886-6236
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GB005753
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2018 American Geophysical Union
Related URLs:	Google Scholar: Chase, Z UTAS Profile: Chase, Z Google Scholar: Phipps, SJ Google Scholar: Bindoff, NL UTAS Profile: Bindoff, NL
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