Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Global response to solar radiation absorbed by phytoplankton in a coupled climate model

  • Published:
Climate Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The global climate response to solar radiation absorbed by phytoplankton is investigated by performing multi-century simulations with a coupled ocean–atmosphere-biogeochemistry model. The absorption of solar radiation by phytoplankton increases radiative heating in the near-surface ocean and raises sea surface temperature (SST) by overall ~0.5°C. The resulting increase in evaporation enhances specific atmospheric humidity by 2–5%, thereby increasing the Earth’s greenhouse effect and the atmospheric temperatures. The Hadley Cell exhibits a weakening and poleward expansion, therefore reducing cloudiness at subtropical-middle latitudes and increasing it at tropical latitudes except near the Equator. Higher SST at polar latitudes reduces sea ice cover and albedo, thereby increasing the high-latitude ocean absorption of solar radiation. Changes in the atmospheric baroclinicity cause a poleward intensification of mid-latitude westerly winds in both hemispheres. As a result, the North Atlantic Ocean meridional overturning circulation extends more northward, and the equatorward Ekman transport is enhanced in the Southern Ocean. The combination of local and dynamical processes decreases upper-ocean heat content in the Tropics and in the subpolar Southern Ocean, and increases it at middle latitudes. This study highlights the relevance of coupled ocean–atmosphere processes in the global climate response to phytoplankton solar absorption. Given that simulated impacts of phytoplankton on physical climate are within the range of natural climate variability, this study suggests the importance of phytoplankton as an internal constituent of the Earth’s climate and its potential role in participating in its long-term climate adjustments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson WG, Gnanadesikan A, Hallberg R, Dunne J, Samuels BL (2007) Impact of ocean color on the maintenance of the Pacific Cold Tongue. Geophys Res Lett. doi:10.1029/2007GL030100

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson W, Gnanadesikan A, Wittenberg A (2009) Regional impacts of ocean color on tropical Pacific variability. Ocean Science 5(3):313–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behrenfeld MJ, O’Malley RT, Siegel DA, McClain CR, Sarmiento JL, Feldman GC, Milligan AJ, Falkowski PG, Letelier RM, Boss ES (2006) Climate-driven trends in contemporary ocean productivity. Nature 444(7120):752–755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blanke B, Delecluse P (1993) Variability of the Tropical Atlantic Ocean simulated by a general circulation model with 2 different mixed-layer physics. J Phys Oceanogr 23(7):1363–1388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce DG, Lewis MR, Worm B (2010) Global phytoplankton decline over the past century. Nature 466(7306):591–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conkright M, Garcia H, O’Brien T, Locarnini R, Boyer T, Stephens C, Antonov J (2002) World Ocean Atlas 2001, vol 4: Nutrients. In: NOAA Atlas NESDIS 52, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC

  • Eden C, Willebrand J (2001) Mechanisms of interannual to decadal variability in the North Atlantic circulation. J Climate 14:2266–2280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falkowski PG, Oliver MJ (2007) Mix and match: how climate selects phytoplankton. Nat Rev Microbiol 5:813–819. doi:10.1038/nrmicro1751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fogli PG, Manzini E, Vichi M, Alessandri A, Patara L, Gualdi S, Scoccimarro E, Masina S, Navarra A (2009) INGV-CMCC Carbon (ICC): A Carbon Cycle Earth System Model. CMCC Research Paper 61. http://www.cmcc.it/publications-meetings/publications/research-papers/rp0061-ans-04-2009

  • Fortuin JPF, Kelder H (1998) An ozone climatology based on ozonesonde and satellite measurements. J Geophys Res 103(D24):31709–31734. doi:10.1029/1998JD200008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fyfe JC, Saenko OA (2006) Simulated changes in the extratropical Southern Hemisphere winds and currents. Geophys Res Lett 33:L06701. doi:10.1029/2005GL025332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia HE, Locarnini RA, Boyer TP, Antonov JI, Zweng MM, Baranova OK, Johnson DR (2010) World Ocean Atlas 2009, Volume 4: Nutrients (phosphate, nitrate, silicate). In: Levitus S (ed) NOAA Atlas NESDIS 71, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

  • Geider RJ, MacIntyre HL, Kana TM (1997) Dynamic model of phytoplankton growth and acclimation: Responses of the balanced growth rate and the chlorophyll a : carbon ratio to light, nutrient-limitation and temperature. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 148(1–3):187–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gent PR, McWilliams JC (1990) Isopycnal mixing in ocean circulation models. J Phys Oceanogr 20(1):150–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnanadesikan A, Anderson WG (2009) Ocean Water Clarity and the Ocean General Circulation in a Coupled Climate Model. J Phys Oceanogr 39(2):314–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnanadesikan A, Emanuel K, Vecchi GA, Anderson WG, Hallberg R (2010) How ocean color can steer Pacific tropical cyclones. Geophys Res Lett 37:L18802. doi:10.1029/2010GL044514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Held IM, Soden BJ (2000) Water vapor feedback and global warming. Annual Review of Energy and the Environment 25:441–475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Held IM, Soden BJ (2006) Robust responses of the hydrological cycle to global warming. J Clim 19(21):5686–5699. doi:10.1175/JCLI3990.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jerlov NG (1968) Optical oceanography. American Elsevier Publ. Co., Inc., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Jochum M, Yeager S, Lindsay K, Moore K, Murtugudde R (2010) Quantification of the Feedback between Phytoplankton and ENSO in the Community Climate System Model. J Climate 23(11):2916–2925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johns TC, Royer J-F, Höschel I, Huebener H, Roeckner E, Manzini E, May W, Dufresne J-L, Otterå OH, van Vuuren DP, Salas y Melia D, Giorgetta M, Denvil S, Yang S, Fogli PG, Körper J, Tjiputra JF, Stehfest E, Hewitt CD (2011) Climate change under aggressive mitigation: the ENSEMBLES multi-model experiment. Clim Dyn 37(9–10):1975–2003. doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1005-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Key RM, Kozyr A, Sabine CL, Lee K, Wanninkhof R, Bullister JL, Feely RA, Millero FJ, Mordy C, Peng TH (2004) A global ocean carbon climatology: Results from global data analysis project (GLODAP). Glob Biogeochem Cyc 18:GB4031. doi:10.1029/2004GB002247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knutson TR, Manabe S (1995) Time-mean response over the Tropical Pacific to increased CO2 in a coupled ocean-atmosphere model. J Clim 8(9):2181–2199. doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1995)008<2181:TMROTT>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lengaigne M, Menkes C, Aumont O, Gorgues T, Bopp L, Andre JM, Madec G (2007) Influence of the oceanic biology on the tropical Pacific climate in a coupled general circulation model. Clim Dyn 28(5):503–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lengaigne M, Madec G, Bopp L, Menkes C, Aumont O, Cadule P (2009) Bio-physical feedbacks in the Arctic Ocean using an Earth System Model. Geophys Res Lett 36:L21602. doi:10.1029/2009GL040145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitus S, Boyer T, Conkright M, O’Brien T, Antonov J, Stephens C, Stathoplos L, Johnson D, Gelfeld R (1998) World Ocean Database 1998: vol. 1: Introduction. In: NOAA Atlas NESDIS 18, p 346, U.S. Gov. Printing Office, Washington, DC

  • Löptien U, Eden C, Timmermann A, Dietze H (2009) Effects of biologically induced differential heating in an eddy-permitting coupled ocean-ecosystem model. J Geophys Res Oceans 114:C06011. doi:10.1029/2008JC004936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz DJ, DeWeaver ET (2007) Tropopause height and zonal wind response to global warming in the IPCC scenario integrations. J Geophys Res 112:D10119. doi:10.1029/2006JD008087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu J, Vecchi GA, Reichler T (2007) Expansion of the Hadley cell under global warming. Geophys Res Lett 34(6):L06805. doi:10.1029/2006GL028443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madec G, Imbard M (1996) A global ocean mesh to overcome the North Pole singularity. Clim Dyn 12(6):381–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madec G, Delecluse P, Imbard M, Levy C (1998) OPA 8.1 Ocean General Circulation Model Reference Manual. Note du Pole de Modélisation, 11, Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Paris

  • Manizza M, Le Quéré C, Watson AJ, Buitenhuis ET (2005) Bio-optical feedbacks among phytoplankton, upper ocean physics and sea-ice in a global model. Geophys Res Lett 32:L05603. doi:10.1029/2004GL020778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manizza M, Le Quéré C, Watson AJ, Buitenhuis ET (2008) Ocean biogeochemical response to phytoplankton-light feedback in a global model. J Geophys Res-Oceans 113:C10010. doi:10.1029/2007JC004478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marzeion B, Timmermann A, Murtugudde R, Jin FF (2005) Biophysical feedbacks in the tropical Pacific. J Climate 18(1):58–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClain CR (2009) A Decade of Satellite Ocean Color Observations. Annual Review of Marine Science 1:19–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meehl GA, Stocker TF, Collins P, Friedlingstein WD, Gaye AT, Gregory JM, Kitoh A, Knutti R, Murphy JM, Noda A, Raper SCB, Watterson IG, Weaver AJ, Zhao ZC (2007) Global Climate Projections. In: Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

    Google Scholar 

  • Morel A, Antoine D (1994) Heating rate within the upper ocean in relation to its bio-optical state. J Phys Oceanogr 24(7):1652–1665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murtugudde R, Beauchamp J, McClain CR, Lewis M, Busalacchi AJ (2002) Effects of penetrative radiation on the upper tropical ocean circulation. J Climate 15(5):470–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamoto S, Kumar SP, Oberhuber JM, Ishizaka J, Muneyama K, Frouin R (2001) Response of the equatorial Pacific to chlorophyll pigment in a mixed layer isopycnal ocean general circulation model. Geophys Res Lett 28(10):2021–2024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oschlies A (2004) Feedbacks of biotically induced radiative heating on upper-ocean heat budget, circulation, and biological production in a coupled ecosystem-circulation model. J Geophys Res Oceans 109:C12031. doi:10.1029/2004JC002430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patara L, Visbeck M, Masina S, Krahmann G, Vichi M (2011) Marine biogeochemical responses to the North Atlantic Oscillation in a coupled climate model. J Geophys Res 116:C07023. doi:10.1029/2010JC006785

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulson CA, Simpson JJ (1977) Irradiance measurements in upper ocean. J Phys Oceanogr 7(6):952–956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randall DA, Wood RA, Bony S, Colman R, Fichefet T, Fyfe J, Kattsov V, Pitman A, Shukla J, Srinivasan J, Stouffer RJ, Sumi A, Taylor KE (2007) Climate Models and Their Evaluation. In: Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayner NA, Parker DE, Horton EB, Folland CK, Alexander LV, Rowell DP, Kent EC, Kaplan A (2003) Global analyses of sea surface temperature, sea ice, and night marine air temperature since the late nineteenth century. J Geophys Res 108:4407. doi:10.1029/2002JD002670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Röckner E, Bäuml G, Bonaventura L, Brokopf R, Esch M, Giorgetta M, Hagemann S, Kirchner I, Kornblueh L, Manzini E, Rhodin A, Schlese U, Schulzweida U, Tompkins A (2003) The atmospheric general circulation model ECHAM5, Part I: Model description. Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology, Report No. 349, Hamburg, Germany

  • Russell JL, Stouffer RJ, Dixon KW (2006) Intercomparison of the Southern Ocean circulations in IPCC coupled model control simulations. J Climate 19(18):4560–4575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarmiento JL, Slater R, Barber R, Bopp L, Doney SC, Hirst AC, Kleypas J, Matear R, Mikolajewicz U, Monfray P, Soldatov V, Spall SA, Stouffer R (2004) Response of ocean ecosystems to climate warming. Glob Biogeochem Cy 18 (3): Art. No. GB3003

  • Sathyendranath S, Gouveia AD, Shetye SR, Ravindran P, Platt T (1991) Biological-control of surface-temperature in the Arabian Sea. Nature 349(6304):54–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider EK (1984) Response of the annual and zonal mean winds and temperatures to variations in the heat and momentum sources. J Atmos Sci 41:1093–1115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider EK, Zhu Z (1998) Sensitivity of the Simulated Annual Cycle of Sea Surface Temperature in the Equatorial Pacific to Sunlight Penetration. J Climate 11:1932–1950

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shell KM, Frouin R, Nakamoto S, Somerville RCJ (2003) Atmospheric response to solar radiation absorbed by phytoplankton. J Geophys Res 108:4445. doi:10.1029/2003JD003440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strutton PG, Chavez FP (2004) Biological heating in the equatorial Pacific: Observed variability and potential for real-time calculation. J Climate 17(5):1097–1109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney C, Gnanadesikan A, Griffies SM, Harrison MJ, Rosati AJ, Samuels BL (2005) Impacts of shortwave penetration depth on large-scale ocean circulation and heat transport. J Phys Oceanogr 35(6):1103–1119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timmermann A, Jin FF (2002) Phytoplankton influences on tropical climate. Geophys Res Lett 29:2104. doi:10.1029/2002GL015434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timmermann R, Goosse H, Madec G, Fichefet T, Ethe C, Dulière V (2005) On the representation of high latitude processes in the ORCA-LIM global coupled sea ice-ocean model. Ocean Model 8:175–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uppala SM et al (2005) The ERA-40 re-analysis. Q J R Meteorol Soc 131:2961–3012. doi:10.1256/qj.04.176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valcke S, Caubel A, Vogelsang R, Declat D (2004) Oasis3 ocean atmosphere sea ice soil user’s guide. Technical Report TR/CMGC/04/68, CERFACS, Toulouse, France

  • Vichi M, Masina S (2009) Skill assessment of the PELAGOS global ocean biogeochemistry model over the period 1980–2000. Biogeosciences 6:2333–2353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vichi M, Masina S, Pinardi N (2007a) A generalized model of pelagic biogeochemistry for the global ocean ecosystem. Part I: Theory. J Mar Syst 64(1–4):89–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Vichi M, Masina S, Navarra A (2007b) A generalized model of pelagic biogeochemistry for the global ocean ecosystem. Part II: Numerical simulations. J Mar Syst 64(14):110–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vichi M, Manzini E, Fogli PG, Alessandri A, Patara L, Scoccimarro E, Masina S, Navarra A (2011) Global and regional ocean carbon uptake and climate change: Sensitivity to an aggressive mitigation scenario. Clim Dyn 37:1929–1947. doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1079-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel P, Maier-Reimer E, Botzet M, Jungclaus J, Keenlyside N, Latif M (2006) Effects of ocean biology on the penetrative radiation in a coupled climate model. J Climate 19(16):3973–3987

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Centro Euro-Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC). The authors thank the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) for making available ERA-40 wind stress data, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for providing SeaWiFS chlorophyll satellite products, and the Hadley Centre for the sea surface temperature data available on the website http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs. The authors thank E. Schneider for his comments on a previous version of the manuscript. Two anonymous reviewers are also gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Lavinia Patara

    Present address: Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR), Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany

  2. Elisa Manzini

    Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Euro-Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), Viale Aldo Moro 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy

    Lavinia Patara, Marcello Vichi, Simona Masina, Pier Giuseppe Fogli & Elisa Manzini

  2. Centro Euro-Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Viale Aldo Moro 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy

    Marcello Vichi & Simona Masina

Authors
  1. Lavinia Patara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marcello Vichi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Simona Masina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pier Giuseppe Fogli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Elisa Manzini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lavinia Patara.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Patara, L., Vichi, M., Masina, S. et al. Global response to solar radiation absorbed by phytoplankton in a coupled climate model. Clim Dyn 39, 1951–1968 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-012-1300-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-012-1300-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation