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Characterizing the Roles of Biogeochemical Cycling and Ocean Circulation in Regulating Marine Copper Distributions

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jc017742· OSTI ID:1978543
Copper (Cu) is a key micronutrient for marine phytoplankton. Its oceanic biogeochemical cycle has elicited considerable attention due to dissolved Cu exhibiting a unique linear profile with depth. Several processes have been proposed for explaining this behavior. Here, in this study, we characterize the relationships between the observed Cu, PO43–, and Si on a global scale. We find that the depth profiles of Cu resemble those of Si more than of PO43– in the global ocean. To understand their relationships, we couple the biogeochemical and internal circulation processes in a model, fitting optimal Cu:PO43– uptake ratios and remineralization length-scales to replicate the marine Cu distributions. The modeling results suggest that Cu uptake needs in the Southern Ocean are substantially higher than those in other oceanic regions. In addition, our modeling results indicate a deep Cu remineralization in the global ocean. We offer an alternative mechanism that relies on biogeochemical cycling and internal circulation to produce the linear depth profiles of dissolved Cu. Our results suggest that diatoms are likely the major phytoplankton dominating oceanic Cu cycling.
Research Organization:
Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0019344
OSTI ID:
1978543
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1842366
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 127; ISSN 2169-9275
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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