Modelling carbon dynamics in Lagrangian oceanic ecosystems: applications to fertilization experiments and mesoscale eddies

Marine plankton play a crucial role in carbon storage, global climate, and ecosystem function. Planktonic ecosystems are embedded in patches of water that are continuously moving, stretching, and diluting. In this work, we present an ecosystem model that describes biomass production and carbon dynamics within a Lagrangian patch in the ocean. First, we illustrate its theoretical background from both a physical and biological perspective. Then, we show that our framework is able to reproduce observed biochemical patterns during the SOIREE fertilization experiment. Finally, we discuss further applications to the case of three-dimensional mesoscale eddies.