Carbonate system and acidification in the Mediterranean Sea: variability, impacts of physical and biological processes and valuation of carbon sequestration

We evaluated the biogeochemical impact of planktonic related processes on the space-time distribution carbonate system variables (e.g. alkalinity, pH, air-sea CO2 fluxes) in the Mediterranean Sea and related economic implications by using a validated 3D coupled transport-biogeochemical model (OPATM-BFM). Simulations provided a reconstruction of the state and variability of contemporary carbonate system and an assessment of the relative impacts of the biogeochemical processes on the carbonate system dynamic and on the sea-air CO2 fluxes. Basing on these data a microeconomic valuation of the economic impacts of changes in marine carbon sequestration was then performed.