2024/05/23 by Yinghuan Xie, Paul Spence, Stuart Corney +4 · 1 voice
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Marine and coastal ecosystems #Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics #Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
paper · pdf · doi:10.1029/2023gl106342
openalex publication_date 2024/05/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Abstract Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) transports surface nutrients deep into the ocean, sequestering them for centuries. Enhancing its biological carbon fixation could augment carbon sinks and reduce atmospheric CO 2 . Yet, it is uncertain if AABW receives enough light for significant photosynthesis before subducting. Using Lagrangian particle tracking in an ocean sea‐ice model, we found: (a) 70% (66%–73%, depending on euphotic zone (Z eu ) criteria) nutrient rich circumpolar deep water never enters the Z eu before becoming AABW. This percentage varies from 70% to 91%, depending on the mixed layer (ML) parameterization adjustments; (b) The remaining particles in the euphotic zone have 39 (34–49, depending on Z eu criteria) days average residence time. The time is not sensitive to ML parameterization strength but turning it off doubles the time; and (c) AABW is mainly exposed to enough light on the Antarctic continental shelf during spring and summer. We conclude that the potential of biotic carbon sequestration in AABW is highly limited by light energy.