Differences in the biological carbon pump at three subtropical ocean sites

Abstract

We report primary production of organic matter andorganic carbon removal from three subtropical open oceantime-series stations, two located in the Atlantic and one in thePacific, to quantify the biological components of the oceaniccarbon pump. We find that within subtropical gyres, exportproduction varies considerably despite similar phytoplanktonbiomass and productivity. We provide evidence that theremoval of organic carbon is linked to differences in nutrientinput into the mixed layer, both from eddy induced mixingand dinitrogen fixation. These findings contribute to ourknowledge of the spatial heterogeneity of the subtropicaloceans, which make up more than 50% of all ocean area andare thought to spread in the course of CO2- induced globa warming.