Work

Shifting Carbonate Saturation Depth in the Deep Western Pacific and Its Implications for Sedimentary Carbonate Preservation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The marine carbonate system plays a crucial role in regulating the global carbon cycle. In the North Pacific, the carbonate saturation depth (CSD), where biogenic calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) starts to dissolve rapidly beneath, is suggested to be above ∼1,000 mbsl, contradicting with pervasive CaCO 3 preservation in deep‐sea sediments. To resolve this paradox, we re‐visit the sedimentary CaCO 3 distribution and carbonate chemistry across the western Pacific with a carbonate accumulation model. Our results show that CSD shoals along the route of Lower Circumpolar Deep Water, resulted from respiration‐driven declining [CO 3 2− ]. In contrast, the development of mid‐depth carbonate undersaturation, caused by enhanced particulate organic carbon (POC) remineralization driven by high productivity, sharply raises the CSD in northern Northwest Pacific and substantially lowers the regional CaCO 3 preservation. The carbonate system in intermediate‐deep NWP is sensitive to increased CO 2 mostly due to POC remineralization, which may exacerbate widespread CaCO 3 dissolution in the future.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2025gl117868

Authors: Hao Fang, Yiming Luo

Institutions: Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai)

Language: English

Topic: Marine and coastal ecosystems

Subfield: Oceanography

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life below water, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190