Role of pelagic calcification and export of carbonate production in climate change « PEACE » (SD/CS/03) - Final Report

Abstract

The overall objective of the PEACE project is to evaluate the role in climate regulation of calcification, primary production and export processes during coccolithophorid blooms. We use a transdisciplinary approach that combines process-oriented field investigations with laboratory experiments and modelling tools. Specific objectives are: 1) to study the net ecosystem dynamics during coccolithophorid blooms, 2) to unravel the link between the bacterial community, grazing, transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) dynamics, carbon export and dimethylsulfide (DMS) cycling during coccolithophorid blooms, 3) to assess the effects of ocean acidification on coccolithophorid metabolism and TEP production, and 4) to model coccolithophorid dynamics and their impact on ocean dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) chemistry