Impact of intensifying nitrogen limitation on ocean net primary production is fingerprinted by nitrogen isotopes
Buchanan, P.J.; Aumont, O.; Bopp, L.; Mahaffey, C.; Tagliabue, A. (2021). Impact of intensifying nitrogen limitation on ocean net primary production is fingerprinted by nitrogen isotopes. Nature Comm. 12(1): 6214. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26552-w
In: Nature Communications. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2041-1723; e-ISSN 2041-1723, meer
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Buchanan, P.J.
- Aumont, O.
- Bopp, L.
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- Mahaffey, C.
- Tagliabue, A.
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| Abstract |
The open ocean nitrogen cycle is being altered by increases in anthropogenic atmospheric nitrogen deposition and climate change. How the nitrogen cycle responds will determine long-term trends in net primary production (NPP) in the nitrogen-limited low latitude ocean, but is poorly constrained by uncertainty in how the source-sink balance will evolve. Here we show that intensifying nitrogen limitation of phytoplankton, associated with near-term reductions in NPP, causes detectable declines in nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) and constitutes the primary perturbation of the 21st century nitrogen cycle. Model experiments show that ~75% of the low latitude twilight zone develops anomalously low δ15N by 2060, predominantly due to the effects of climate change that alter ocean circulation, with implications for the nitrogen source-sink balance. Our results highlight that δ15N changes in the low latitude twilight zone may provide a useful constraint on emerging changes to nitrogen limitation and NPP over the 21st century. |
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