Net primary productivity estimates and environmental variables in the Arctic Ocean: An assessment of coupled physical-biogeochemical models
Author
Lee, Younjoo J.
Matrai, Patricia A.
Friedrichs, Marjorie A.M.
Saba, Vincent S.
Aumount, Olivier
Babin, Marcel
Buitenhuis, Erik T.
Chevallier, Matthieu
de Mora, Lee
Dessert, Morgane
Dunne, John P.
Ellingsen, Ingrid H.
Feldman, Doron
Frouin, Robert
Gehlen, Marion
Gorguess, Thomas
Ilyina, Tatiana
Jin, Meibing
John, Jasmin G.
Lawrence, Jon
Manizza, Manfredi
Menkes, Christophe E.
Perruche, Coralie
Le Fouest, Vincent
Popova, Ekaterina E.
Romanou, Anastasia
Samuelsen, Annette
Schwinger, Jörg
Séférian, Roland
Stock, Charles A.
Tjiputra, Jerry
Tremblay, L. Bruno
Ueyoshi, Kyozo
Vichi, Marcello
Yool, Andrew
Zhang, Jinlun
Date
2016-12Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
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 versus
ice-influenced) and bottom depth (shelf versus deep ocean). The models performed relatively well for
the most recent decade and toward 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.
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2016JC011993
Upon
publication, the in situ data will be
available for academic purposes
through the NASA SeaWiFS Bio-optical
Archive and Storage System (http://
seabass.gsfc.nasa.gov/), including NPP,
NO3, and Zeu.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Collections
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