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April 1, 2026Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems2 citationsOpen Access

Development of a Mesoscale‐ and Tide‐Resolving Ocean–Biogeochemistry Model for the Pacific: Tidal Enhancement of the Biological Carbon Pump

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PDPierre DamienJMJeroen MolemakerDMDaniel McCoy

Key Points

  • To develop a new ocean-biogeochemistry model that includes tidal forcing and evaluate its impact on biological productivity.
  • Developed a physical-biogeochemical ocean model for the Pacific Ocean that resolves mesoscale dynamics.
  • Included tidal forcing into the model and compared simulations with and without it.
  • Evaluated model outcomes against physical and biogeochemical datasets.
  • Tides increased net primary production by approximately 0.45 PgC and carbon export by 0.09 PgC.
  • Tidal forces primarily enhance nutrient supply and biological productivity in coastal zones and the eastern equatorial Pacific.
  • Model successfully reproduces significant large-scale circulation patterns and biogeochemical features.

Abstract

Abstract This study presents a new physical‐biogeochemical simulation of the Pacific Ocean that resolves mesoscale dynamics and explicitly includes tidal forcing. The primary objective is to develop and document a modeling framework that serves both as a detailed record of model configuration and forcing preparation, and as a reference for future regional downscaling. The model is extensively evaluated against physical and biogeochemical data sets and successfully reproduces large‐scale circulation patterns and key biogeochemical features. The second objective is to assess the impact of explicitly including tidal forcing on primary production and carbon export, thereby clarifying the biogeochemical consequences of tidal dynamics. While tides are known to energize high‐frequency motions, their influence on ocean biogeochemistry remains insufficiently constrained. By comparing simulations with and without tidal forcing, we show that tides enhance net primary production and particulate organic carbon export, particularly in coastal zones and the eastern equatorial Pacific. Basin‐wide, tidal forcing increases biological carbon uptake by approximately 0.45 PgC and export by 0.09 PgC . This enhancement is primarily driven by tide‐induced advection–mixing interactions, which increase nutrient supply to the surface and stimulate biological productivity. These findings underscore the importance of including tides in ocean biogeochemical models to improve estimates of the global carbon cycle and refine projections of future oceanic carbon uptake.

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Cite This Study

Damien et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69cd7b575652765b073a952ehttps://doi.org/10.1029/2025ms005458
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