BGC-06\INT-04 Ocean Health and Biological Carbon Pump with BGC-Argo
Connections between North Atlantic Net Primary Production and Net Community Production based on Estimates from Biogeochemical Argo floats
Marin Cornec* , University of Washington; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
Yibin Huang, University of California Santa Cruz; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
Nina Buzby, University of Washington; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
Andrea Fassbender, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

Quantifying mechanisms governing the biological carbon pump is essential to better understand the global ocean carbon cycle. The North Atlantic Ocean is composed of regions with distinct trophic conditions and hydrographic regimes. Here we focus on two typical endmembers systems: the subpolar gyre characterized by spring phytoplankton blooms and winter convective mixing, and the subtropical gyre characterized by oligotrophic conditions and quasi-permanent stratification that limits vertical exchange. This study compares various aspects of the biological carbon pump in these two regions, based on observed and estimated parameters from the Biogeochemical (BGC) Argo floats. The broad spatial coverage and high-temporal resolution of the float measurements allow seasonal quantification of net community production (NCP) and associated fluxes in various layers of the water column (surface to twilight horizon). Our approach relies on leveraging multiple bio-optical and chemical tracers measured or derived from BGC float measurements (e.g. particulate organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon, and nitrate) combined for validation with ship board observations from regional time-series sites. Our study provides insight into 1) regional net primary production (using a depth-resolved model) and NCP processes and their horizontal and vertical gradients, 2) the possibility of extrapolating productivity estimates using 3D-gridded products, and 3) the contribution of spring bloom production to seasonal carbon export. This study shows how a multi-sensor, multi-platform approach can be used to refine our understanding of the biological carbon pump, and its spatio-temporal patterns throughout ocean basins. It also highlights the importance of 3D observing when evaluating variability in biogeochemical processes.