NutGEnIE 1.0: nutrient cycle extensions to the cGEnIE Earth system model to examine the long-term influence of nutrients on oceanic primary production

Abstract

Understanding the nuances of the effects of nutrient limitation on oceanic primary production has been the focus of many bioassay experiments by oceanographers. A theme of these investigations is that they identify the currently limiting nutrient at a given location, or in other words they identify the proximate limiting nutrient (PLN). However, the ultimate limiting nutrient (ULN; the nutrient whose supply controls system productivity over extensive timescales) can be different from the PLN. Our motivation is to investigate the identity of the ULN. The ULN constrains oceanic primary production over extensive timescales and consequently overall ocean fertility. The rate of oceanic photosynthesis affects planetary oxygen and carbon dioxide, impacting climate. Understanding past ocean fertility is fundamental to understanding Earth system history and biological evolution.
Investigations that have considered the ULN have often utilised box models for example the work of, Tyrrell (1999) and Lenton and Watson (2000). To facilitate investigation of the ULN the carbon-centric Grid Enabled Integrated Earth system model (cGEnIE) nutrient cycles have been extended to create NutGEnIE. NutGEnIE incorporates three open nutrients cycles nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron. The impacts of diazotrophs, capable of fixing nitrogen, are represented alongside those of other phytoplankton. NutGEnIE is capable of extended duration model simulations necessary to investigate the ULN while, at the same time, including iron as a potentially limiting nutrient. NutGEnIE is described here, with particular focus on the biogeochemical cycles of iron, nitrogen and phosphorus. Model results are compared to ocean observational data to assess the degree of realism. Model-data comparisons include physical properties, nutrient concentrations, and process rates (e.g., export and nitrogen fixation). The comparisons of NutGEnIE to ocean observational data are largely positive, suggesting that the dynamics of NutGEnIE are valid. The validations, allied to the ability to run an Earth System model with open nutrients cycles of nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron over extensive time periods supports the proposed use of NutGEnIE to revisit the question of the ULN for oceanic primary production.

More information

Identifiers

ORCID for David A. Stappard: orcid.org/0000-0002-8991-169X

ORCID for Toby Tyrrell: orcid.org/0000-0002-1002-1716

Catalogue record

Export record

Altmetrics