Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-921
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-921
24 May 2023
 | 24 May 2023
Status: this preprint is open for discussion.

A missing link in the carbon cycle: phytoplankton light absorption under RCP scenarios

Rémy Asselot, Frank Lunkeit, Philip Holden, and Inga Hense

Abstract. Marine biota and biogeophysical mechanisms, such as phytoplankton light absorption, have attracted increasing attention in recent climate studies. Under global warming, the impact of phytoplankton on the climate system is expected to change. Previous studies analyzed the impact of phytoplankton light absorption under prescribed future atmospheric CO2 concentrations. However, the role of this biogeophysical mechanism under freely-evolving atmospheric CO2 concentration and future CO2 emissions remains unknown. To shed light on this research gap, we perform simulations with the EcoGEnIE Earth system model and prescribe CO2 emissions out to 2500 following the four Extended Concentration Pathways (ECP) scenarios, which for practical purpose we call RCP scenarios. Under all RCP scenarios, our results indicate that phytopankton light absorption weakens the biological carbon pump while it increases the surface chlorophyll, the sea surface temperature, the atmospheric CO2 concentrations and the atmospheric temperature. Under the RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP6.0 scenarios, the magnitude of changes due to phytoplankton light absorption is similar. However, under the RCP8.5 scenario, the changes in the climate system are less pronounced due to temperature limitation of phytoplankton concentration, highlighting a reduced effect of phytoplankton light absorption under strong warming. Additionally, this work highlights the major role of phytoplankton light absorption on the climate system, suggesting highly uncertain feedbacks on the carbon cycle with uncertainties that maybe in the range of those known from the land biota.

Rémy Asselot et al.

Status: open (until 09 Jul 2023)

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Rémy Asselot et al.

Rémy Asselot et al.

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Short summary
Phytoplankton are tiny oceanic algae able to absorb the light penetrating the ocean. The light absorbs by these organisms is re-emitted as heat in the surrounding environment, a process commonly called phytoplankton light absorption (PLA). As a consequence, PLA increases the oceanic temperature. We studied this mechanism with a climate model under different climate scenarios. We show that phytoplankton light absorption is reduced under strong warming scenario, limiting oceanic warming.