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Physical and ecological uncertainties in the widespread implementation of controlled upwelling in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre
Citation
Letelier, RM and Strutton, PG and Karl, DM, Physical and ecological uncertainties in the widespread implementation of controlled upwelling in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Marine Ecology - Progress Series, 371 pp. 305-308. ISSN 0171-8630 (2008) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2008 Inter-Research
Abstract
Based on the recent hypothesis of Karl & Letelier (2008; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 364:257–268),
Fennel (2008; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 371:301–303) presents a model and initiates an important discussion
on the potential effect that widespread controlled upwelling of deep water in the North Pacific Subtropical
Gyre (NPSG) may have on upper water column stratification, nitrogen (N2) fixation, and C
sequestration. Fennel concludes that the upwelling required to support the sequestration of 1Gt C
yr–1 would deepen the mixed-layer significantly, inhibiting N2 fixation and precluding the enhancement
of the biological carbon pump. However, her model does not include the role that solar radiant
heating plays in the maintenance of the upper ocean stratification, nor does she discuss observations
suggesting that N2 fixation in the NPSG is never completely suppressed. When the solar radiance
absorbed by the mixed-layer is considered, the upper ocean stratification is maintained in Fennel’s
model. Nevertheless, and as Fennel suggests, the effects that a basin scale long-term implementation
of controlled upwelling may have on the pelagic ecosystem are difficult to predict due to the complex
nature of the system and our incomplete understanding of feedback mechanisms between ocean
physics, biology and climate. For this reason, we contend that controlled upwelling of deep water in
oligotrophic regions should be viewed as originally concluded by Karl & Letelier (2008): a tool to
study the response of pelagic microbial assemblages to perturbations at different spatial and
temporal scales, rather than a strategy to stabilize climate through the large-scale manipulation of
poorly understood ecosystems.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | geo-engineering, north pacific subtropical gyre |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Oceanography |
| Research Field: | Biological oceanography |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences |
| UTAS Author: | Strutton, PG (Professor Peter Strutton) |
| ID Code: | 80204 |
| Year Published: | 2008 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 9 |
| Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
| Deposited On: | 2012-10-24 |
| Last Modified: | 2013-05-10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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