Blue Carbon

SOLUBILITY PUMP Transport of CO 2 through the air-sea interface

CO

CO

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION PATTERNS

2

2

AIR-SEA INTERFACE CO 2

EXCHANGES

Low Latitudes

High Latitudes

CO

CO

CO

CO

PHYSICAL PUMP Transport of CO 2 by Vertical Mixing and Deep Water Masses

2

2

2

2

CO

CO

Deep Water Masses Formation

Respiration

2

2

Long-time Scale Global Action

Food Web

Vertical Mixing Local Action Short-time Scale

Nutrients (Ammonia)

Phytoplankton

Organic Carbon Oxygen

Nutrients CO 2

Primary Production

CO

2

Bacteria Remineralization

Egestion

Nutrients

Decomposition

(Nitrate)

Particulate Carbon (Organic and Inorganic)

Sinking

Nutrients (Nitrate)

BIOLOGICAL PUMP Vertical gravitational settlings of biogenic debris

CO 2

Bacteria Oxidation

Carbon Deposition

Sources: R. Chester, 2003; H. Elderfield, 2006; R.A. Houghton, 2007; T.J. Lueker et al , 2000;J.A. Raven and P.G. Falkowski, 1999.

Carbon Burial

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