Interannual variability of deep water particle flux in relation to production and lateral sources in the northeast Atlantic

Waniek, Joanna J; Schulz–Bull, Detlef E.; Blanz, Thomas; Prien, Ralf D.; Oschlies, Andreas; Müller, Thomas J.

doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2004.08.008

Cited by 48 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…that accounts for the flow fields to range from 250 to 350 km, and from 350 to 600 km for aggregates with settling speeds of 50 to 100 m d 21 (Waniek et al 2000). In our study, the horizontal scale of massive export is smaller than 100 km, which is much smaller than previously thought.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 45%

Vertical distribution of aggregates (>110 µm) and mesoscale activity in the northeastern Atlantic: Effects on the deep vertical export of surface carbon

Guidi

Stemmann

Legendre

et al. 2007

Limnology & Oceanography

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Spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of marine aggregates (.110 mm) was studied using underwater video profilers in an area off the Iberian Peninsula and Azores Islands dominated by mesoscale and submesocale hydrodynamics in winter, spring, and summer 2001. In the 0-200-m layer, aggregates were most abundant in spring (100-120 mg dry weight [dry wt] m 23 ) and lowest during summer and winter (1-10 mg dry wt m 23 ). In the deeper layers (down to 1,000 m), the seasonal pattern was different, with concentrations highest in spring and summer, and lowest in winter (e.g., at 800 m, 5-10 mg dry wt m 23 in spring and summer; 1-5 mg dry wt m 23 in winter). The seasonal change in the abundance of aggregates in the upper 1,000 m was consistent with changes in the composition and intensity of the particulate flux recorded in sediment traps and with seasonal changes in the surface phytoplankton community. In an area dominated by eddies, surface accumulation of aggregates and export down to 1,000 m occur at mesoscale distances (,100 km). The occurrence of a rich aggregate layer may be related to mesoscale activity in water flow that drives nutrient inputs, phytoplankton production, and the formation of large aggregates. Such spatially constrained zones of massive export may be typical of frontal open-sea systems, and may have been missed by conventional sediment trap moorings, which cannot resolve export at this mesoscale level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 45%

Vertical distribution of aggregates (>110 µm) and mesoscale activity in the northeastern Atlantic: Effects on the deep vertical export of surface carbon

Guidi

Stemmann

Legendre

et al. 2007

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…Ref. [16] showed high variability in surface production based on model results and remotely measured chlorophyll , but did not provide any explanation which processes are responsible for such results.…”

Section: South Of Newfoundland Near 39mentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Variability of the biological export production in the upper water column was analyzed by using particle flux data from a sediment trap in 2000 m from the mooring station KIEL276 (Table 2, [16]) located at 33…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This DCM is a consistent oceanographic feature of the subtropical ocean [25]. The particle flux used in this study is directly coupled to the phytoplankton development and decay in the euphotic zone [16] with a delay of one and a half to two months [26]. The particle flux data were sampled with 0.5 m 2 sediment traps in 2000 m depth.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[7] summarized the results of 13 cruises in the frontal region and found no significant differences in primary production rates related to the position of the front. Interannual variability in the biogenic particle flux [16] could not be explained since related dynamics on the upper water column caused by propagation of the AF were not well understood. Ref.…”

Section: South Of Newfoundland Near 39mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of the azores front propagation on deep ocean particle flux

Fründt

Waniek

2012

Open Geosciences

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Abstract:The Azores Current originating as a branch of the Gulf Stream is a highly dynamic system in the subtropical North Atlantic. The associated front forms the northeastern boundary of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. In this study we analyzed 42 years of assimilated modeled temperature fields to localize the position of the Azores Front at 22 • W and observed a fast north-and southward propagation between 30 • N and 37 • N on monthly to decadal time scales. The North Atlantic Oscillation with correlated changes of the wind direction was identified as one driving mechanism. As the front is acting as a guide for Rossby waves, the signal of the front's propagation is transferred to the western Atlantic and, among other atmospheric forcing mechanisms, induces a shifting of the Northern Wall of the Gulf Stream with one year delay. Shallower mixed layer depths in the northern frontal region of the Azores Current caused by the rise of the isotherms lead to nutrient supply and primary production different from those found in the southern frontal region of the current system. A high interannual variability is manifested in deep ocean particle flux, derived from a sediment trap in 2000 m water depth at the mooring site KIEL276 (33 • N, 22 • W) from 1993 to 2008, which is directly related to the phytoplankton bloom in the euphotic zone. This variability is explained by the propagation of the front and strong variations in the catchment areas of the sediment trap due to the associated eddy activity in the frontal region.

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The wineglass effect shapes particle export to the deep ocean in mesoscale eddies

Waite

Stemmann

Guidi

et al. 2016

Geophysical Research Letters

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Mesoscale eddies in the ocean strongly impact the distribution of planktonic particles, mediating carbon fluxes over ~1/3 of the world ocean. However, mechanisms controlling particle transport through eddies are complex and challenging to measure in situ. Here we show the subsurface distribution of eddy particles funneled into a wineglass shape down to 1000 m, leading to a sevenfold increase of vertical carbon flux in the eddy center versus the eddy flanks, the “wineglass effect”. We show that the slope of the wineglass (R) is the ratio of particle sinking velocity to the radially inward velocity, such that R represents a tool to predict radial particle movement (here 0.05 m s−1). A simple model of eddy spindown predicts such an ageostrophic flow concentrating particles in the eddy center. We explore how size‐specific particle flux toward the eddy center impacts eddies' biogeochemistry and export fluxes.

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Interannual variability of deep water particle flux in relation to production and lateral sources in the northeast Atlantic

Cited by 48 publications

References 50 publications

Vertical distribution of aggregates (>110 µm) and mesoscale activity in the northeastern Atlantic: Effects on the deep vertical export of surface carbon

Vertical distribution of aggregates (>110 µm) and mesoscale activity in the northeastern Atlantic: Effects on the deep vertical export of surface carbon

Impact of the azores front propagation on deep ocean particle flux

The wineglass effect shapes particle export to the deep ocean in mesoscale eddies

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