The influence of meso-scale eddies on the soft-tissue carbon pump
Omta, A.-W., Kooijman, S. A. L. M. and Dijkstra, H. A. 2007.
The influence of meso-scale eddies on the soft-tissue carbon pump.
J. Geophys. Res. subm 2006/08/21
Abstract
In an idealized situation of a baroclinically unstable single eddy, we
study the impact of the eddy induced mixing on the soft-tissue carbon
pump. The new element here is the use of a three-dimensional
nonhydrostatic ocean model coupled to a physiological plankton model
that is able to represent a flexible plankton stoichiometry and hence
a variable Redfield ratio. During the development and breakup of the
eddy, a complicated plankton pattern appears. The processes of
plankton growth and transport and the net effect on the Redfield ratio
are studied in detail. Our main result is that the physical processes
associated with eddy breakup lower the Redfield ratio and hence weaken
the soft-tissue carbon pump.