The role of physical, chemical, and biological processes in the
simulated warming effects on future ocean acidification
Abstract
The effect of warming-induced changes in different marine physical,
chemical, and biological processes on ocean acidification has been
largely overlooked. This study uses an Earth system model to investigate
the impacts of warming-induced changes in marine dynamical and
thermodynamical processes, CO2 solubility, and biological processes on
ocean acidification. Under the representative concentration pathway
RCP8.5 and its extension, relative to the simulation without CO2-induced
warming effects on the ocean carbon cyle, by year 2500, warming
increases global ocean mean [CO32-] by 11.6 μmol kg-1, of which 53%
is associated with warming-induced changes in dynamical and
thermodynamical processes, 20% is associated with warming-induced
changes in CO2 solubility, and 27% is associated with warming-induced
changes in ocean biological rates. In the Arc-Atlantic Ocean, mainly due
to the greater temperature-induced changes in dynamical and
thermodynamical processes, the total warming effect on the ocean carbon
cycle acts to increase ocean mean [CO32-] by a considerable 60%, in
particular, up to 109% in the depth of ~2500 m, by year
2500. In our simulated results, warming-induced changes in individual
biological processes, including phytoplankton growth and mortality
rates, and detritus remineralization rate, as well as total biological
effects are found to affect ocean acidification by an amount comparable
to or greater than that caused by warming-induced changes in dynamical
and thermodynamical processes and CO2 solubility. Our study highlights
the potentially important role of CO2-induced warming in ocean
acidification and the ocean carbon cycle.