The contribution of deep chlorophyll maxima to net primary production in the Southern Ocean

The contribution of deep chlorophyll maxima to net primary production in the Southern Ocean | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 29 September 2025 V1 Latest version Share on The contribution of deep chlorophyll maxima to net primary production in the Southern Ocean Authors : Clara R Vives 0000-0002-6150-7644 [email protected] , Christina Schallenberg , Peter G Strutton , Jørgen Bendtsen , Katherine Richardson , and Philip W Boyd Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175915788.88573801/v1 Published Global Biogeochemical Cycles Version of record Peer review timeline 171 views 187 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Deep chlorophyll maxima (DCMs) have long been studied in the northern hemisphere but have received less attention in the Southern Ocean. Their contribution to phytoplankton biomass and net primary productivity (NPP) is poorly resolved. Recently, the application of satellite NPP algorithms to biogeochemical (BGC)-Argo float data has improved vertically-resolved NPP estimates. Using this approach on 12,700 BGC-Argo profiles south of 30°S, we report (1) subsurface (below the mixed layer) estimates of NPP, (2) the contribution of subsurface NPP to total NPP, and (3) the influence of DCMs and deep biomass maxima (DBMs) on (1) and (2). When DCMs are present (n=2,119 profiles), subsurface NPP is 217 ± 106 mg C m -2 day -1 compared to 82 ± 92 mg C m -2 day -1 for all profiles. We further compare observations across seasons in four water masses from nitrate-limited oligotrophic waters north of the subtropical front to iron-limited regions further south, including the sea ice zone. Low-latitude DCMs (i.e., 30-44°S), show the highest contribution to column-integrated NPP. However, DCMs occur across all frontal zones and contribute significantly to total NPP when present. Rather than missing subsurface NPP associated with DCMs, the satellite Carbon-based Productivity Model (CbPM) tends to mistakenly assume DCMs below the mixed layer, overestimating NPP. This situation is somewhat ameliorated in the ferricline version of the CbPM due to better nutricline-euphotic depth alignment. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the vertical structure of phytoplankton stocks and productivity, with direct impacts on global NPP estimates and, ultimately, climate model projections. Abstract content goes here Supplementary Material File (vives_2025b.pdf) Download 1.37 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 29 September 2025 Peer review timeline Published Global Biogeochemical Cycles Version of Record 8 Oct 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords argo floats deep chlorophyll maxima net primary productivity phytoplankton southern ocean Authors Affiliations Clara R Vives 0000-0002-6150-7644 [email protected] Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania TAS Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, University of Tasmania Globe Institute, Section for Geobiology, University of Copenhagen View all articles by this author Christina Schallenberg CSIRO Environment Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, University of Tasmania TAS View all articles by this author Peter G Strutton Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania TAS Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, University of Tasmania Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, University of Tasmania View all articles by this author Jørgen Bendtsen Globe Institute, Section for Geobiology, University of Copenhagen View all articles by this author Katherine Richardson Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen View all articles by this author Philip W Boyd Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania TAS Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, University of Tasmania Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, University of Tasmania View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 171 views 187 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Clara R Vives, Christina Schallenberg, Peter G Strutton, et al. The contribution of deep chlorophyll maxima to net primary production in the Southern Ocean. Authorea . 29 September 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175915788.88573801/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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