Wohlers, Julia (2009) Effects of sea surface warming on elemental cycling in a pelagic system. (PhD/ Doctoral thesis), Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, 125 pp.

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Abstract

The present thesis investigates the effects of climate change-induced sea surface warming on elemental cycling in a pelagic system. Human activities, e.g. burning of fossil fuels, changes in land-use practices and deforestation, are changing Earth’s climate at an unprecedented rate in its history. While the ocean mitigates the progress of climate change by taking up and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and heat, thus acting as a natural climate buffer, these anthropogenic perturbations are also affecting the ocean itself in its chemical and physical properties, e.g. through increased warming and acidification of the upper ocean layers. While these abiotic deviations from contemporary surface ocean conditions are predictable with relatively high certainty, present knowledge concerning their effects on marine organisms and any potentially emerging biotic feedbacks to the climate system is still in its infancy. The aim of this thesis is to elucidate such effects of rising sea surface temperature on the biogeochemical cycling of the key elements carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus during the spring bloom of planktonic communities in a pelagic system.

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