资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

Iron release from melting continental and sea ice is deemed important for phytoplankton, the growth of which is iron-limited in the Southern Ocean. Both sources are generally considered separately, yet their effects on the biological carbon pump could interact. Using a global ocean-sea-ice-biogeochemical model with a representation of both continental and sea ice iron sources, we find them to have an overall additive effect on phytoplankton activity, increasing carbon export by +13.9% of the Southern Ocean total, with continental ice contributing +4.5% and sea ice +8.0%. The +1.4% residual is due to a coupled fertilization effect: when the iron source from continental ice is activated, iron in sea ice increases by 16%, so does iron transport towards low production areas. Overall, this increases phytoplankton activity: fertilization is more efficient where sea ice melts than at locations of initial iron release by continental ice.