Pham & Ito (2019)
A suite of model simulations are used to explain what controls the distribution of subsurface iron in the global oceans.
Research focus: Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry
Is the ecosystem controlled by the environment? Is the environment controlled by the ecosystem? We are interested in the feedbacks between marine ecosystem and the cycling of nutrients, carbon and oxygen in marine environment.
Kida & Ito (2017), J. Geophys. Res. Oceans.
Theories of spring phytoplankton bloom are examined in an unified theoretical framework. (journal)
Research focus: Ocean Carbon Cycle
More than 95% of carbon atom in the surface of the Earth is dissolved in the ocean, and its dynamically exchanging carbon with the atmosphere. Our research aims to better understand the transport and storage of carbon within the ocean through circulation and biological processes.
Ito & Wang (2017), J. Mar. Sys.
The ECCO-JPL circulation provides overall reliable estimates of the water age and the upper ocean ventilation rates suitable for biogeochemical studies.
Iudicone et al., (2016), Scientific Reports
This study highlights the crucial role of ocean circulation between the subtropical and subpolar regions that sets the pathway of carbon sequestration into the deep sea.
Ito et al., (2010), Nature
A data-constrianed, eddy-permitting carbon cycle model is used to calculate the uptake and transport of anthropogenic carbon in the Southern Ocean.
Jones et al., (2015), J. Phys. Oceanogr.
This study demonstrate how the slope of density surfaces in the Southern Ocean is controlled by the turbulent eddies mixing of potential vorticity.
Ito and Follows (2013), Global Biogeo. Cyc.
A theory is developed to measure to what extent the incomplete air-sea gas exchange in the Southern Ocean can amplify the effect of biological pump.
Ito and Follows, (2005), J. Mar. Res.
This paper explains the quantitative relationship between the biological activity and atmospheric CO2 using the global mean preformed phosphate as a metric.
Research focus: Climate and Carbon Cycle
The Earth's climate has changed dramatically in the past and is currently experiencing rapid increase of greenhouse gases at an unprecedented rate. Our research aims to better understand the climate change of the past and future from the viewpoint of carbon-climate linkages.
Lynch-Stieglitz and Ito (2016), Paleoceanogr.
A consistent relationship between the LGM stratification and the circulation intensity has been found from sediment proxies.
Ito et al., (2015), Geophys. Res. Lett.
Southern Ocean is projected to retain large amount of carbon in the deep water due to the weakened ventilation in global warming simulations.
Deutsch et al, (2014), Science.
Sediment records show that trade wind controlled the variability of tropical Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone in the last 150 years.
Research focus: Ocean Dexygenation
Our knowledge of ocean deoxygenation is quite limited, due to sparse observations and the fact that oxygen levels are naturally dynamic, characterized by significant interannual to decadal fluctuations.
Ito et al., (2017), Geophys. Res. Lett.
A widespread negative O2 trend is beginning to emerge from the envelope of interannual variability according to historic datasets. [journal] [preprint] [Download Data]
Long et al., (2016), Global Biogeochem. Cyc.
The increasing temperature and stratification is predicted to drive oxygen decline in the seawater – aka Ocean Deoxygention, likely to exhibit widespread anthropogenic ocean deoxygenation by 2030-2040s. [journal] [preprint]
Ito et al., (2016), Nature Geosci.
Deposition of polluted aerosol could be partially responsible for the recent expansion of the tropical Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone. [journal] [preprint]
Ito and Deutsch (2013), Global Biogeochem. Cyc.
ENSO cycles controls the variability of tropical Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone on the interannual timescale by modulating heat content, circulation and biological productivity. [journal] [preprint]
Ito and Deutsch (2010), Geophys. Res. Lett.
Ocean circulation integrates the variability of physical and biological processes to produce decadal variability of dissolved oxygen in the thermocline. [journal]
Deutsch et al, (2011), Science.
Observed Variability of tropical Oxygen Minimum Zone is reproduced by a computational simulation for the first time. The cause of variability is linked to the depth of the thermocline. [journal]