Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, USA.
Ann Rev Mar Sci. 2013;5:269-87. doi: 10.1146/annurev-marine-121211-172317. Epub 2012 Aug 28.
Global warming and its disproportionate impact on polar regions have led to increased iceberg populations. Southern Ocean studies in the northwest Weddell Sea have verified substantial delivery of terrestrial material accompanied by increased primary production and faunal abundance associated with free-drifting icebergs. It is hypothesized that input and utilization of macro- and micronutrients are promoted by conditions unique to free-drifting icebergs, leading to increased production, grazing, and export of organic carbon. In Arctic regions, increased freshwater input from meltwater acts to stratify and stabilize the upper water column. As has been observed in the Southern Ocean, Arctic-region icebergs should drive turbulent upwelling and reduce stratification, potentially leading to increased nitrate delivery to the local ecosystem. Increasing populations of icebergs in polar regions can potentially be important in mediating the drawdown and sequestration of CO(2) and can thus impact the oceanic carbon cycle.
全球变暖和其对极地地区的不成比例影响导致冰山数量增加。对威德尔海西北部南大洋的研究证实，大量的陆地物质伴随着与自由漂移冰山相关的初级生产和动物丰度的增加而被输送。有人假设，自由漂移冰山特有的条件促进了宏观和微观营养素的输入和利用，从而导致有机碳的产量增加、摄食和输出。在北极地区，融化水增加的淡水输入会使上层水柱分层和稳定。正如在南大洋观察到的那样，北极冰山应该会驱动动荡的上升流并减少分层，从而有可能增加硝酸盐输送到当地生态系统。极地地区冰山数量的增加可能在调节二氧化碳的消耗和封存方面非常重要，从而影响海洋碳循环。
