Oxygen and carbon-based rates of production and respiration across the Equatorial and South Pacific Oceans

Accurately quantifying marine primary production is vital for understanding the global carbon cycle and the ocean's role in CO₂ sequestration. This study used in situ, ship-based measurements, including Winkler titrations, O₂/Ar ratios, optical proxies for carbon concentrations, as well as 18O and ¹⁴C incubations, across a 40 degree latitudinal gradient in the Equatorial and South Pacific ocean to assess primary production and respiration rates over the diel time scale. Macromolecular analyses of particulate organic carbon (POC) were used to investigate how biochemical compositions influence the photosynthetic quotient (PQ) and respiratory quotient (RQ). Results were compared to previous observations in the North Pacific, providing a basin-scale view of how metabolic balance changes with nutrient supply and particle compositions. These findings will improve predictive models of global carbon cycling and enhance the understanding of marine ecosystems' role in climate variability.

Presentation Preference: Oral

Primary Presenter: Robert Clegg, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (rcleggrtc@gmail.com)

Authors:

Robert Clegg, University of Hawai’i at Manoa  (rcleggrtc@gmail.com)

Fernanda Henderikx-Freitas, University of Hawai’i at Manoa  (fhenderi@hawaii.edu)

Angelicque White, University of Hawai’i at Manoa  (aewhite@hawaii.edu)

Sara Ferrón, University of Hawai’i at Manoa  (sferron@hawaii.edu)

Macarena Burgos, University of Hawai’i at Manoa  (macarena.burgos@uca.es)