Proposal to CLIVAR

1. Proposal to CLIVAR Shoshiro Minobe (Hokkaido University, Japan) Emanuele Di Lorenzo (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA) Mike Foreman (Institute of Ocean Science, Canada) Toshio Suga (Tohoku University, Japan, former CLIVAR Pacific Panel member) Hiroaki Saito (Tohoku National Fishery Research Institute, Japan, former IMBER SSC member) Hiroshi Ogawa (Tokyo University, Japan, IMBER SSC member) Co-chairs of PICES WG “North Pacific Climate Variability and Change” PICES is a multidisciplinary marine science organization run by six countries around the North Pacific . CLIVAR is a very successful project for physical climate. But for better and integrated climate/ocean sciences, three gaps should be narrowedfor the era of next CLIVAR.

2. Region gap • CLIVAR is tropics oriented (most of CLIVAR endorsed projects are in 30S-30N) reflecting strong air-sea interaction there, but mid-latitudes is important in marine ecosystems & biogeochemical cycles. Air-sea CO2 fluxes Net Primary Production (1997-2003) Activity of PICES covers north of 30N. Ocean absorption emission. NASA Takahashi et al. (2009 DSR-II)

3. Physical-process gap • Physical processes important in marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles may not be important in physical climate. • These processes involves jets, striation, ventilation, water mass formation, meso-scale eddies, sub-mesocale phenomena, oceanic fronts, wave breakings etc. Oxygen concentration at Station Papa in the North Pacific 26.5, 26.7, 26.9, 27.0 Expected ocean oligotrophication may involve meso-scale & submeso-scale phenomena. Ocean acidificationis brought by coastal upwelling to the surface. Ocean deoxygenation is partly due to weakened ventilation& water mass formation. Feely et al. (2008 Science) Resplandy et al. (2009 GBC) Falkowsky et al. (2011 EOS)

4. Interesting Gap • The current frontier & imperatives and the endorsed projects gives an impression that CLIVAR is not interested in physical studies that contribute to marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. • But importance of these fields are rapidly increasing, as well as interests of physical ocean/climate researchers. • Indeed, there are number of multidisciplinary projects in Japan, China, Korea, US, etc. for the North Pacific. No. of paper per year for ocean acidification Concept of Japanese INBOX (Integrated physical-biogeochemical ocean observation exp.) project

5. Proposal to CLIVAR • For better marine/climate sciences, international coordination are needed for physical studies that contribute to marine ecosystems & biogeochemical cycles. • We would like to suggest CLIVAR may address physical studies relating to these fieldsprobably with a smaller weight than air-sea interaction and physical climate but in a more visible waythan that today, so that PIs and governments may consider to communicate with CLIVAR for these studies. • We believe that PICES can collaborate with CLIVAR and CLIVAR Pacific Panel for integrating marine and climate sciences over the North Pacific.