Table 1.
Potential changes in foraminiferal contribution to CaCO3 and POC flux, and the ‘rain ratio’.
| Location | Average Foraminifera Flux (μg m−1 day−1) | Average CaCO3 Flux (μg m−1 day−1) | Average POC Flux (μg m−1 day−1) | Change in CaCO3 Flux (%) | Change in POC Flux (%) | Change in Rain Ratio (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara Basin (Coastal Upwelling) | 635057 | 18100058 | 9600058 | 1% | <1% | 2% |
| Station Papa (Open Ocean) | 1211059 | 1200060 | 1500060 | 38% | 9% | 43% |
| Cariaco Basin (Equatorial Upwelling) | 1449561 | 3700058 | 3400058 | 15% | 5% | 19% |
| Global Average | 0.36 Gt/y-0.88 Gt/y21 | 1.1 Gt/y62 | 0.86 Gt/y63 | 12–30% | 5–11% | 15–38% |
Fluxes are taken from the deepest available published sediment-trap measurements at each site for Santa Barbara Basin (500 m) in the Southern California Current System, Station Papa (1000 m) in the North Pacific, and Cariaco Basin (1200 m) in the tropical Atlantic56–61. Global averages assume a depth of >1000 m and are based on a range of potential contributions of foraminifera calcite to CaCO3 flux at depth21, 61–63.