Seasonal and interannual variability in deep ocean particle fluxes at the Oceanic Flux Program (OFP)/Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) site in the western Sargasso Sea near Bermuda

Conte, Maureen H.; Ralph, Nate; Ross, E. H.

doi:10.1016/s0967-0645(00)00150-8

Cited by 171 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Thus, the effects of mesoscale features on the perturbation of mixed-layer dynamics are likely to vary seasonally, and may trigger episodic fluxes at times of low vertical stability. This could be one explanation for the high variability in mass flux that is commonly observed in the Sargasso Sea in the December-March period (Conte et al 2001). For the northeast Atlantic, we found that spatial variability in the mesopelagic distributions of aggregate concentrations was lower in summer than winter (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

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: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

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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“…However changes in the relative remineralization length scales for C, N and P fluxes must be considered and would change this balance. In addition, changes in the magnitude of particle flux in the ocean are large, as evidenced by considerable seasonal and interannual variability in particle export and the composition of materials caught in deep-ocean moored time-series traps (Deuser, 1986;Wefer and Fischer, 1991;Honjo and Manganini, 1993;Conte et al, 2001). Thus the flux of C through the twilight zone is a large and variable component of the global carbon cycle that is not necessarily in steady state, at least with respect to time-scales of deep-ocean mixing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

VERTIGO (VERtical Transport In the Global Ocean): A study of particle sources and flux attenuation in the North Pacific

Buesseler

Trull

Steinberg

et al. 2008

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

121

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The VERtical Transport In the Global Ocean (VERTIGO) study examined particle sources and fluxes through the ocean's "twilight zone" (defined here as depths below the euphotic zone to 1000 m). Interdisciplinary process studies were conducted at contrasting sites off Hawaii (ALOHA) and in the NW Pacific (K2) during 3 week occupations in 2004 and 2005, respectively. We examine in this overview paper the contrasting physical, chemical and biological settings and how these conditions impact the source characteristics of the sinking material and the transport efficiency through the twilight zone. A major finding in VERTIGO is the considerably lower transfer efficiency (T eff ) of particulate organic carbon (POC), POC flux 500 / 150 m, at ALOHA (20%) vs. K2 (50%). This efficiency is higher in the diatom-dominated setting at K2 where silica-rich particles dominate the flux at the end of a diatom bloom, and where zooplankton and their pellets are larger. At K2, the drawdown of macronutrients is used to assess export and suggests that shallow remineralization above our 150 m trap is significant, especially for N relative to Si. We explore here also surface export ratios (POC flux/primary production) and possible reasons why this ratio is higher at K2, especially during the first trap deployment. When we compare the 500 m fluxes to deep moored traps, both sites lose about half of the sinking POC by >4000 m, but this comparison is limited in that fluxes at depth may have both a local and distant component.Certainly, the greatest difference in particle flux attenuation is in the mesopelagic, and we highlight other VERTIGO papers that provide a more detailed examination of the particle sources, flux and processes that attenuate the flux of sinking particles. Ultimately, we contend that at least three types of processes need to be considered: heterotrophic degradation of sinking particles, zooplankton migration and surface feeding, and lateral sources of suspended and sinking materials. We have evidence that all of these processes impacted the net attenuation of particle flux vs. depth measured in VERTIGO and would therefore need to be considered and quantified in order to understand the magnitude and efficiency of the ocean's biological pump.

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“…As a further method of intercomparison, we also analyzed 10 OFP samples (3200 m depth, < 1 mm particle size fraction) that were collected from 2000-01 and processed using trace metal clean methods (Conte et al 2001). For this set, a 1/10 sample aliquot was shaken and divided coarsely into two fractions.…”

Section: Huang Et Al Fusion-icp-ms Analysis Of Oceanic Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 1978, the Oceanic Flux Program (OFP) off Bermuda has measured particle flux in the deep Sargasso Sea and the relationship between flux variability and physical and biological processes in the overlying surface ocean (Deuser 1986, Conte et al 2001, 2003, Jickells et al 1990). This one-time series alone contains more than 1000 samples of flux material from 3 discrete depths (500, 1500, and 3200 m).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of high‐temperature fusion for analysis of major and trace elements in marine sediment trap samples

Huang

Sholkovitz

Conte

2007

Limnology & Ocean Methods

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Multielemental information is important for a broad range of ocean biogeochemical studies, yet the quantity of sample material available for analysis is often extremely limited. Here we describe a simple, rapid, and accurate method for multielemental analyses of oceanic sediment trap material. This method involves high-temperature fusion using a lithium metaborate flux for sample digestion and elemental quantification using high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS). Each analysis consumes only 1 to 2 mg of sample material yet enables simultaneous measurements of 18 elements (Mg, Al, Si, P, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, Ba, and Pb) with accuracy of > 90% for most elements. The fusion method introduces minimal contamination when appropriate sample handling and procedural precautions are employed. Elemental quantification of samples prepared for ICP-MS analysis using fusion agrees well with those prepared using acid digestion. Additionally, the fusion method has several advantages over acid digestion. No highly toxic reagents like hydrofluoric acid are used. Refractory mineral dissolution is more complete. Si, Ca, and other trace elements can be analyzed without potential losses due to coprecipitation with CaF 2 . The simplicity and reproducibility of the procedure makes it especially suitable for routine, ongoing analyses of oceanic particulate materials.

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Seasonal and interannual variability in deep ocean particle fluxes at the Oceanic Flux Program (OFP)/Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) site in the western Sargasso Sea near Bermuda

Cited by 171 publications

References 64 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

VERTIGO (VERtical Transport In the Global Ocean): A study of particle sources and flux attenuation in the North Pacific

Application of high‐temperature fusion for analysis of major and trace elements in marine sediment trap samples

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