Impact of tropical cyclones on ocean biogeochemistry in a high resolution Earth system model

Tropical cyclones (TCs) and oceans are a tightly coupled system. On the one hand, the ocean physical conditions such as stratification and eddies can change the intensity of TCs. On the other, TCs can strongly affect the physical and biochemical structure of the upper ocean by e.g. increasing mixing and primary production and impacting the ocean pCO2.

While previous studies have explored the impact of TCs on the global upper ocean biogeochmistry using observational data or coarse resolution stand-alone ocean models, their effect on ocean pCO2 and primary production remain unexplored within Earth system models. In this study, we investigate the response of ocean biogeochemistry to TCs through a high resolution simulation using the ICON-ESM model. The simulation features a spatial resolution of 5km for both the atmosphere and the ocean, resolving mesoscale eddies in the ocean and convective storms in the atmosphere. We quantify the contribution of TCs to changes in air-sea CO2 flux and primary production globally and in different basins.