AUTHOR=Strong-Wright Jago , Taylor John R. 

TITLE=Modeling the Growth Potential of the Kelp Saccharina Latissima in the North Atlantic

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.793977

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2021.793977

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=It has recently been proposed that macroalgae (e.g. kelp) could be grown in the open ocean as a CO2 removal strategy. Most macroalgae naturally grow in shallow coastal waters, and their ability to grow in open ocean conditions is largely untested. Here we quantify macroalgae growth potential in the North Atlantic using an established model of \emph{Saccharina latissima} forced by an ocean state estimate. In the relatively clear open ocean waters, we find that growth is possible to depths of up to 50m across most of the region, with higher growth between 40N and 50N. The model exhibits a large carbon to nitrogen ratio at the southern end of the growth range. The ratio of kelp carbon to phytoplankton biomass is also relatively high in the southeastern portion of the growth range. Using a sensitivity analysis, we find that the position of the southern limit of the growth range is largely modulated by temperature tolerance on the western side of the basin in the Gulf Stream and low nitrates on the eastern side of the basin. We also find a statistically significant reduction in the kelp growth potential over the period from 2002-2019, reflecting the warming of the surface ocean over this period.