Abstract
Parameterizations of algal photosynthesis commonly employed in global
biogeochemical simulations generally fail to capture the observed
vertical structure of primary production. Here we examined the
consequences of decoupling photosynthesis (carbon fixation) and
biosynthesis (biomass building) with accumulation or exudation of excess
photosynthate under energy rich conditions in both regional and global
models. The results show that the decoupling of these two processes
improved the simulated vertical profile of primary production, increased
modeled global primary production up to ~35%, improved
simulated meridional patterns of particulate C:N:P and increased modeled
surface pool of semi-labile DOC.