4.8 Article

Basin-scale estimates of pelagic and coral reef calcification in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean

Publisher

NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1414323111

Keywords

CaCO3 precipitation; alkalinity; Sr/Ca; Rayleigh distillation; Red Sea

Funding

  1. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  2. Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Basin-scale calcification rates are highly important in assessments of the global oceanic carbon cycle. Traditionally, such estimates were based on rates of sedimentation measured with sediment traps or in deep sea cores. Here we estimated CaCO3 precipitation rates in the surface water of the Red Sea from total alkalinity depletion along their axial flow using the water flux in the straits of Bab el Mandeb. The relative contribution of coral reefs and open sea plankton were calculated by fitting a Rayleigh distillation model to the increase in the strontium to calcium ratio. We estimate the net amount of CaCO3 precipitated in the Red Sea to be 7.3 +/- 0.4.10(10) kg.y(-1) of which 80 +/- 5% is by pelagic calcareous plankton and 20 +/- 5% is by the flourishing coastal coral reefs. This estimate for pelagic calcification rate is up to 40% higher than published sedimentary CaCO3 accumulation rates for the region. The calcification rate of the Gulf of Aden was estimated by the Rayleigh model to be similar to 1/2 of the Red Sea, and in the northwestern Indian Ocean, it was smaller than our detection limit. The results of this study suggest that variations of major ions on a basin scale may potentially help in assessing long-term effects of ocean acidification on carbonate deposition by marine organisms.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.8
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available