Cristina Schultz, Northeastern University
Jessica Y. Luo, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Damian C. Brady, University of Maine
Robinson W. Fulweiler, Boston University
Matthew H. Long, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Colleen M. Petrik, University of California, San Diego
Jeremy M. Testa, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Heather M. Benway, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
David Burdige, Old Dominion University
Marta M. Cecchetto, Genoa Marine Centre
Isa Elegbede, Lagos State University
Natalya Evans, Dalhousie University
Alexandra Frenzel, University of Connecticut Avery Point Campus
Kayla Gillen, Northeastern University
Lisa C. Herbert, Florida State University
Heidi K. Hirsh, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Gennadi Lessin, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Lisa Levin, University of California, San Diego
Kanchan Maiti, Louisiana State University
Sairah Malkin, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Sarah L. Mincks, Louisiana State University
Stanley Nmor, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
Anh Pham, University of California, Los Angeles
James Pinckney, University of South Carolina
Christophe Rabouille, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace
Shaily Rahman, University of Colorado Boulder
Subhadeep Rakshit, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Nicholas E. Ray, University of Delaware
Dalton K. Sasaki, Northeastern University
Samantha A. Siedlecki, University of Connecticut Avery Point Campus
Christopher Somes, GEOMAR - Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel
Aron Stubbins, Northeastern University
Olivier Sulpis, European Centre for Research and Teaching in Environmental Geoscience (CEREGE)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2025

Abstract

The ocean plays a major role in controlling atmospheric carbon at decadal to millennial timescales, with benthic carbon representing the only geologic-scale storage of oceanic carbon. Despite its importance, detailed benthic ocean observations are limited and representation of the benthic carbon cycle in ocean and Earth system models (ESMs) is mostly empirical with little prognostic capacity, which hinders our ability to properly understand the long-term evolution of the carbon cycle and climate change-related feedbacks. The Benthic Ecosystem and Carbon Synthesis (BECS) working group, with the support of the US Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry Program (OCB), identified key challenges limiting our understanding of benthic systems, opportunities to act on these challenges, and pathways to increase the representation of these systems in global modeling and observational efforts. We propose a set of priorities to advance mechanistic understanding and better quantify the importance of the benthos: (a) implementing a model intercomparison exercise with existing benthic models to support future model development, (b) data synthesis to inform both model parameterizations and future observations, (c) increased deployment of platforms and technologies in support of in situ benthic monitoring (e.g., from benchtop to field mesocosm), and (d) global coordination of a benthic observing program (“GEOSed”) to fill large regional data gaps and evaluate the mechanistic understanding of benthic processes acquired throughout the previous steps. Addressing these priorities will help inform solutions to both global and regional resource management and climate adaptation strategies.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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