Modelling marine biogeochemical extreme events: Distribution, characteristics and impacts

Modelling marine biogeochemical extreme events: Distribution, characteristics and impacts

Marine biogeochemical extreme events, associated with ocean warming, deoxygenation and acidification have been observed to increase in their frequency, intensity and spatiotemporal extent, with the 2014-2016 North Pacific Blob an example for a severe and long-lasting compound extreme event. Potentially acting as harbingers of future climate change, these extremes are associated with substantial changes in marine ecosystem composition and functioning. Here, we use regional and global marine ecosystem and Earth System models to understand the drivers, distribution, characteristics and impacts of biogeochemical extremes over the historical time period. Using pteropods as an example study taxon, we discuss a range of habitat-based, ecological and physiological metrics to quantify and attribute impacts on marine ecosystems.