Two possible fates for coccolithophores in a greenhouse world
Abstract
Coccolithophore phytoplankton may respond in one of at least two different ways to fossil fuel emissions and climate change over the next few centuries. In common with other marine calcifying organisms, there is evidence for sensitivity of coccolithophore calcification rate to carbonate ion concentration, which will fall sharply as atmospheric CO2 rises. Comparison of global bloom maps from old and new satellites also suggests another possible response to global change. Blooms of E. huxleyi appear to be moving northwards towards/into the Arctic Ocean, with satellites showing new bloom areas in the eastern Bering Sea and the Barents Sea. The history of E. huxleyi blooms in the eastern Bering Sea will be described, ascertained from detailed analysis of archived AVHRR satellite images.
- Publication:
-
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly
- Pub Date:
- April 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003EAEJA......918T