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1.
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) distributions along two Atlantic Meridional Transects conducted in 2005 in the region between 47°N and 34°S showed clear latitudinal patterns. The DOC concentrations in the epipelagic zone (0–100 m) were the highest (70–90 µM) in tropical and subtropical waters with stable mixed layers, and lowest (50–55 µM) at the poleward extremities of the transects due to deep convective mixing supplying low DOC waters to the surface. A decrease in DOC occurred with depth, and lowest DOC concentrations (41–45 µM) in the 100–300 m depth range were observed in the equatorial region due to upwelling of low DOC waters. A strong relationship between DOC and AOU was observed in the σt 26–26.5 isopycnal layer which underlies the euphotic zone and outcrops at the poleward extremities of the North and South Atlantic Subtropical Gyres (NASG and SASG) in the region ventilating the thermocline waters. Our observations reveal significant north–south variability in the DOC–AOU relationship. The gradient of the relationship suggests that 52% of the AOU in the σt 26–26.5 density range was driven by DOC degradation in the NASG and 36% in the SASG, with the remainder due to the remineralisation of sinking particulate material. We assess possible causes for the greater contribution of DOC remineralisation in the NASG compared to the SASG.  相似文献   

2.
Satellite remote sensing offers new means of quantifying particulate organic carbon, POC, concentration over large oceanic areas. From SeaWiFS ocean color, we derived 10-year data of POC concentration in the surface waters of the global ocean. The 10-year time series of the global and basin scale average surface POC concentration do not display any significant long-term trends. The annual mean surface POC concentration and its seasonal amplitude are highest in the North Atlantic and lowest in the South Pacific, when compared to other ocean basins. POC anomalies in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and global concentrations seem to be inversely correlated with El Niño index, but longer time series are needed to confirm this relationship. Quantitative estimates of POC reservoir in the oceanic surface layer depend on the choice of what should represent this layer. Global average POC biomass is 1.34 g m?2 if integrated over one optical depth, 3.62 g m?2 if integrated over mixed layer depth, and up to 6.41 g m?2 if integrated over 200-m layer depth (when assumed POC concentration below MLD is 20 mg m?3). The global estimate of total POC reservoir in the surface 200-m layer of the ocean is 228.61×1013 g. We expect that future estimates of POC reservoir may be even larger, when more precise calculations account for deep-water organic-matter maxima in oligotrophic regions, and POC biomass located just below the seasonal mixed layer in spring and summer in the temperate regions.  相似文献   

3.
Below the sill depth (at about 2400 m) of the Alpha-Mendeleyev ridge complex, the waters of the Canada Basin (CB) of the Arctic Ocean are isolated, with a 14C isolation age of about 500 yr. The potential temperature θ decreases with depth to a minimum θm≈−0.524°C near 2400 m, increases with depth through an approximately 300 m thick transition layer to θh≈−0.514°C, and then remains uniform from about 2700 m to the bottom at 3200–4000 m. The salinity increases monotonically with depth through the deep θm and transition layer from about 34.952 to about 34.956 and then remains uniform in the bottom layer. A striking staircase structure, suggestive of double-diffusive convection, is observed within the transition layer. The staircase structure is observed for about 1000 km across the basin and has been persistent for more than a decade. It is characterized by 2–3 mixed layers (10–60 m thick) separated by 2–16 m thick interfaces. Standard formulae, based on temperature and salinity jumps, suggest a double-diffusive heat flux through the staircase of about 40 mW m−2, consistent with the measured geothermal heat flux of 40–60 mW m−2. This is to be expected for a scenario with no deep-water renewal at present as we also show that changes in the bottom layer are too small to account for more than a small fraction of the geothermal heat flux. On the other hand, the observed interfaces between mixed layers in the staircase are too thick to support the required double-diffusive heat flux, either by molecular conduction or by turbulent mixing, as there is no evidence of sufficiently vigorous overturns within the interfaces. It therefore seems, that while the staircase structure may be maintained by a very weak heat flux, most of the geothermal heat flux is escaping through regions of the basin near lateral boundaries, where the staircase structure is not observed. The vertical eddy diffusivity required in these near-boundary regions is O(10−3) m2 s−1. This implies Thorpe scales of order 10 m. We observe what may be Thorpe scales of this magnitude in boundary-region potential temperature profiles, but cannot tell if they are compensated by salinity. The weak stratification of the transition layer means that the large vertical mixing rate implies a local dissipation rate of only O(10−10) W kg−1, which is not ruled out by plausible energy budgets. In addition, we discuss an alternative scenario of slow, continuous renewal of the CB deep water. In this scenario, we find that some of the geothermal heat flux is required to heat the new water and vertical fluxes through the transition layer are reduced.  相似文献   

4.
New productivity measurements using the 15N tracer technique were conducted in the north-eastern (NE) Arabian Sea during six expeditions from 2003 to 2007, mostly in winter. Our results indicate that the NE Arabian Sea has a potential for higher new productivity during blooms. Nitrate uptake by plankton is the highest during late winter. New productivity and f-ratios in the NE Arabian Sea are mainly controlled by hydrodynamic and meteorological parameters such as wind strength, sea surface temperature (SST), mixed layer depth (MLD) and mixed layer nitrate. Deepening of the mixed layer supplies nitrate from below, which supports the observed nitrogen uptake. Higher f-ratios during blooms indicate the strong coupling between surface layers and sub-surface layers. Deepening of mixed layer below 100 m (from its inter-monsoon value between 30 and 40 m) transferred often more than 100 mmol N–NO3 m? 2 into the surface layers from below. The observed winter blooms in the region are supported by such input and are sustained for more than a month. Higher new productivity has been found in late winter, whereas transport of nitrate is maximum in early winter. In general, new production varies progressively during winter. Diurnal cycling of the mixed layer could be the reason for the under utilization of entrained nitrate during early winter. New productivity values and wind strength show significant differences during Feb–Mar 03 and Feb–Mar 04. These differences indicate that the winter cooling and parameters related the biological productivity also vary inter-annually. However, the difference between the new productivity values between Feb–Mar 03 and Feb–Mar 04 is much lower than the difference between Jan 03 and Feb–Mar 03. The results suggest that amplitude of seasonal variation is higher than the inter-annual variation in the region. During spring, Fickian diffusive fluxes of nitrate into the surface layer range from 0.51 to 1.38 mmol N–NO3 m? 2 day? 1, and can account for 67% and 78% of the observed nitrogen uptake in the coastal and open ocean regions, respectively. We document the intra-seasonal and inter-annual variations in new productivity during winter and identify sources of nitrate which support the observed productivity during spring.  相似文献   

5.
6.
Climate models with biogeochemical components predict declines in oceanic dissolved oxygen with global warming. In coastal regimes oxygen deficits represent acute ecosystem perturbations. Here, we estimate dissolved oxygen differences across the global tropical and subtropical oceans within the oxygen minimum zone (200–700-dbar depth) between 1960–1974 (an early period with reliable data) and 1990–2008 (a recent period capturing ocean response to planetary warming). In most regions of the tropical Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans the oxygen content in the 200–700-dbar layer has declined. Furthermore, at 200 dbar, the area with O2 <70 μmol kg?1, where some large mobile macro-organisms are unable to abide, has increased by 4.5 million km2. The tropical low oxygen zones have expanded horizontally and vertically. Subsurface oxygen has decreased adjacent to most continental shelves. However, oxygen has increased in some regions in the subtropical gyres at the depths analyzed. According to literature discussed below, fishing pressure is strong in the open ocean, which may make it difficult to isolate the impact of declining oxygen on fisheries. At shallower depths we predict habitat compression will occur for hypoxia-intolerant taxa, with eventual loss of biodiversity. Should past trends in observed oxygen differences continue into the future, shifts in animal distributions and changes in ecosystem structure could accelerate.  相似文献   

7.
The diffusive component of the particulate organic carbon (POC) export from the ocean's surface layer has been estimated using a combination of the mixed layer model and SeaWiFS ocean color data. The calculations were carried out for several example sites located in the North Atlantic over a 10-year time period (1998–2007). Satellite estimates of surface POC derived from ocean color were applied as an input to the model driven by local surface heat and momentum fluxes. For each year of the examined period, the diffusive POC flux was estimated at a 200 m depth. The highest flux is generally observed in the spring and fall seasons, when surface waters are weakly stratified. In addition, the model results demonstrate significant interannual and geographical variability of the flux. The highest diffusive POC flux occurs in the northern North Atlantic and the lowest in the subtropical region. The interannual variability of the diffusive POC flux is associated with mixed layer dynamics and underscores the importance of atmospheric forcing for POC export from the surface layer to the ocean's interior.  相似文献   

8.
Year-long Lagrangian trajectories within the Labrador Sea Water of the eastern North Atlantic Ocean are analysed for basic flow statistics. Root-mean-square velocities at 1750 m depth are about 2 cm/s, except within the North Atlantic Current, where they are twice as large. These values are consistent with previous Eulerian measurements and extend those results to a much larger domain of the eastern basin. Mean flow estimates in boxes large enough to contain about 1 float-year of data indicate that Labrador Sea Water, having crossed the Mid- Atlantic Ridge (not resolved) near 50–55°N, presumably with the North Atlantic Current, partially recirculates to the north in the subpolar gyre, as well as entering the subtropical gyre and continuing south and west. The circulation of this water mass, as defined by the 1 yr average velocities, is stronger than traditional models of deep circulation would suggest, with an interior flow of roughly 1 cm/s. Mean speeds up to 3 cm/s were observed, with the highest values near the Azores Plateau. North of 45°N–55°N, mean eastward speeds closer to 0.2 cm/s were observed. Wind-generated barotropic fluctuations may be responsible for some part of the transport at this depth.  相似文献   

9.
Ninety-four stations were sampled in the Atlantic subtropical gyres during 10 cruises carried out between 1995 and 2001, mainly in boreal spring and autumn. Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and primary production were measured during all cruises, and phytoplankton biomass was estimated in part of them. Picoplankton (<2 μm) represented >60% of total Chl-a concentration measured at the surface, and their contribution to this variable increased with depth. Phytoplankton carbon concentrations were higher in the upper metres of the water column, whereas Chl-a showed a deep maximum (DCM). At each station, the water column was divided into the upper mixed layer (ML) and the DCM layer (DCML). The boundary between the two layers was calculated as the depth where Chl-a concentration was 50% of the maximum Chl-a concentration. On average DCML extends from 67 to 126 m depth. Carbon to Chl-a (C:Chl-a) ratios were used to estimate phytoplankton carbon content from Chl-a in order to obtain a large phytoplankton carbon dataset. Total C:Chl-a ratios averaged (±s.e.) 103±7 (n=22) in the ML and 24±4 (n=12) in the DCML and were higher in larger cells than in picoplankton. Using these ratios and primary production measurements, we derived mean specific growth rates of 0.17±0.01 d−1 (n=173) in the ML and 0.20±0.01 d−1 (n=165) in the DCML although the differences were not significant (t-test, p>0.05). Our results suggest a moderate contribution of the DCML (43%) to both phytoplankton biomass and primary production in the Atlantic subtropical gyres.  相似文献   

10.
High-resolution multi-channel seismic records from the eastern margin of the Iceland Basin, Northeast Atlantic, are used to infer regional patterns of bottom water dynamics from seafloor morphology and distribution of the most recent geological units deposited along the margin. This information is combined with results from oceanographic and hydrodynamic measurements made in the area. The study area is located between Lousy Bank and Hatton Bank, where deep-water currents are forced around structural highs, leaving a complex pattern of topographically controlled sediment transport pathways. At the top and upper flank of Lousy Bank, George Bligh Bank and Hatton Bank topographic forcing leads to considerable acceleration of the northward flowing North Atlantic Current. At greater water depth, seismic facies indicative of bottom current action are found to be widespread. In addition, seafloor morphology displays moat features extending over large distances. The occurrence of these moats is confined to specific water depths in the range from 700–1400 m and from 1800 to 2200 m depth range. These depth ranges correspond to the basal depth stratum of the North Atlantic Current and the depth range of the Deep Northern Boundary Current, respectively. Geological evidence suggests maximum near-bottom current speed of about 0.5 m/s for these moat areas. Using oceanographic data we suggest that formation of the moats is not likely to be associated with the presence of a persistent high-speed contour current core, but probably originates from the occurrence of solibores and thus may be related to the internal wave field of the Iceland Basin possible linked to atmospheric pressure variation.  相似文献   

11.
The northward flowing Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) is a major contributor to the large-scale meridional circulation of water masses in the Atlantic. Together with bottom and thermocline water, AAIW replaces North Atlantic Deep Water that penetrates into the South Atlantic from the North. On the northbound propagation of AAIW from its formation area in the south-western region of the Argentine Basin, the AAIW progresses through a complex spreading pattern at the base of the main thermocline. This paper presents trajectories of 75 subsurface floats, seeded at AAIW depth. The floats were acoustically tracked, covering a period from December 1992 to October 1996. Discussions of selected trajectories focus on mesoscale kinematic elements that contribute to the spreading of AAIW. In the equatorial region, intermittent westward and eastward currents were observed, suggesting a seasonal cycle of the AAIW flow direction. At tropical latitudes, just offshore the intermediate western boundary current, the southward advection of an anticyclonic eddy was observed between 5°S and 11°S. Farther offshore, the flow lacks an advective pattern and is governed by eddy diffusion. The westward subtropical gyre return current at about 28°S shows considerable stability, with the mean kinetic energy to eddy kinetic energy ratio being around one. Farther south, the eastward deeper South Atlantic Current is dominated by large-scale meanders with particle velocities in excess of 60 cm s-1. At the Brazil–Falkland Current Confluence Zone, a cyclonic eddy near 40°S 50°W seems to act as injector of freshly mixed AAIW into the subtropical gyre. In general, much of the mixing of the various blends of AAIW is due to the activity of mesoscale eddies, which frequently reoccupy similar positions.  相似文献   

12.
The vertical distributions of prokaryote heterotrophic production (3H-leucine incorporation rate) and abundance were investigated in the meso- and bathy-pelagic layers of the Canada Basin, western Arctic Ocean, during September 2009. Prokaryote production and abundance were high in the Pacific-origin water mass located in the upper mesopelagic layer (depth, 100–200 m). Below the halocline layer (depth, 300–3000 m), both the production and abundance decreased with depth, with log–log regression slopes of −1.33 and −0.77, respectively. Depth-integrated production and biomass in the meso- and bathy-pelagic layers was three- to five-fold lower than the corresponding values reported in the subpolar regions, whereas they were close to or lower than the corresponding values in oligotrophic subtropical regions. Prokaryote turnover times were estimated to be 1.1 and 6.1 years for meso- and bathy-pelagic layers, respectively, with the latter being among the longest turnover times reported for oceanic basins. We estimated prokaryote carbon demand in the water column (100–3000 m) to be on the order of 11 mg C m−2 d−1, which largely exceeds (by 38-fold) the sinking particulate organic carbon flux at depths of 120–200 m reported in the literature. This large carbon imbalance may be partly explained by organic carbon delivery by lateral intrusion of the Pacific-origin water mass into the upper mesopelagic layer.  相似文献   

13.
We present a 3-year multidisciplinary biogeochemical data set taken in situ at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) time-series observatory in the Northeast Atlantic (49°N, 16.5°W; water depth ∼4850 m) for the period 2003 to 2005. The high-resolution year-round autonomous measurements include temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a (derived from in situ chlorophyll-fluorescence) and inorganic nitrate, all at a nominal depth of 30 m on an Eulerian observatory mooring. This study compares these in situ time-series data with satellite chlorophyll-a data, regional data from a ship of opportunity, mixed-layer depth measurements from profiling Argo floats and lateral advection estimates from altimetry. This combined and substantial data set is used to analyse seasonal and inter-annual variability in hydrography and nitrate concentrations in relation to convective mixing and lateral advection. The PAP observatory site is in the inter-gyre region of the North Atlantic where convective mixing ranges from 25 m in the summer to over 400 m in winter when nutrients are supplied to the surface. Small inter-annual changes in the winter mixed layer can result in large changes in nitrate supply and productivity. However the decrease in maximum winter nitrate over the three-year period, from 10 to 7 mmol m−3, cannot be fully explained by convective mixing. Trajectories leading to the PAP site, computed from altimetry-derived geostrophic velocities, confirm that lateral advection cannot be ignored at this site and may be an important process along with convective mixing. Over the three years, there is an associated decrease in new production calculated from nitrate assimilation from 85.4 to 40.3±4.3 gCm−2 a−1. This confirms year-to-year variability in primary production seen in model estimates for the region. The continuous in situ dataset also shows inter-annual variation in the timing of the spring bloom due to variations in heat flux; the 2005 bloom occurred earlier than in 2004.  相似文献   

14.
Seven years (2001–2008) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) vertical profiles were examined in order to assess the main processes determining DOC concentration and distribution in the meso- and bathypelagic layers of the Mediterranean Sea. As expected, DOC showed high and highly variable concentrations in the surface layer of 57–68 μM (average values between 0 and 100 m), with a decrease to 44–53 μM between 200 and 500 m. Deep DOC distribution was strongly affected by deep-water formation, with a significant increase to values of 76 μM in recently ventilated deep waters, and low concentrations, comparable to those observed in the open oceanic waters (34–45 μM), where the oldest, deep waters occurred. In winter 2004/2005 a deep-water formation event was observed and the consequent DOC export at depth was estimated to range between 0.76–3.02 Tg C month–1. In the intermediate layer, the main path of the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) was followed in order to estimate the DOC consumption rate in its core. Multiple regression between DOC, apparent oxygen utilization (AOU), and salinity indicated that 38% of the oxygen consumption was related to DOC mineralization when the effect of mixing was removed. In deep waters of the southern Adriatic Sea a DOC decrease of 6 μM, together with an AOU increase of 9 μM, was observed between the end of January 2008 and the end of June 2008 (5 months). These data indicate a rate of microbial utilization of DOC of about 1.2 μM C month−1, with 92% of the oxygen consumption due to DOC mineralization. These values are surprisingly high for the deep sea and represent a peculiarity of the Mediterranean Sea.  相似文献   

15.
Phytoplankton and bacterial abundance, size-fractionated phytoplankton chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and production together with bacterial production, microbial oxygen production and respiration rates were measured along a transect that crossed the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean (10°N–10°S) in September 2000, as part of the Atlantic Meridional Transect 11 (AMT 11) cruise. From 2°N to 5°S, the equatorial divergence resulted in a shallowing of the pycnocline and the presence of relatively high nitrate (>1 μM) concentrations in surface waters. In contrast, a typical tropical structure (TTS) was found near the ends of the transect. Photic zone integrated 14C primary production ranged from ∼200 mg C m−2 d−1 in the TTS region to ∼1300 mg C m−2 d−1 in the equatorial divergence area. In spite of the relatively high primary production rates measured in the equatorial upwelling region, only a moderate rise in phytoplankton biomass was observed as compared to nearby nutrient-depleted areas (22 vs. 18 mg Chl-a m−2, respectively). Picophytoplankton were the main contributors (>60%) to both Chl-a biomass and primary production throughout the region. The equatorial upwelling did not alter the phytoplankton size structure typically found in the tropical open ocean, which suggests a strong top-down control of primary producers by zooplankton. However, the impact of nutrient supply on net microbial community metabolism, integrated over the euphotic layer, was evidenced by an average net microbial community production within the equatorial divergence (1130 mg C m−2 d−1) three-fold larger than net production measured in the TTS region (370 mg C m−2 d−1). The entire region under study showed net autotrophic community metabolism, since respiration accounted on average for 51% of gross primary production integrated over the euphotic layer.  相似文献   

16.
Long-term (⩽1-year) records obtained by seabed observatories (BOBO) and repeated (24-h) CTD casts show the presence of a highly energetic environment in and around two cold-water carbonate-mound provinces, on the Southwest and Southeast Rockall Trough (SW and SE RT) margin. Carbonate mounds, covered with a thriving coral cover, are embedded mainly in the Eastern North Atlantic Water (ENAW) and are observed in a confined bathymetric zone between 600 and 1000 m water depth. Cold-water corals seem to be restricted in their growth by temperature and food availability. The presence of living corals on top of the carbonate mounds appears linked to the presence of internal waves and tidal currents in the water column, and consequently carbonate mound structures are shaped by the local hydrodynamic regime. Mound clusters have an elongated shape perpendicular to the regional contours and corresponding to the direction of the highest current speeds. On the SW RT margin temperature, salinity and current speed reflect a diurnal tidal pattern, causing maximum temperature variations at 900 m depth of more than 3 °C. Current speeds up to 45 cm s−1 occur, and a residual current of 10 cm s−1 is directed along the slope to the southwest. At the SE RT margin the temperature of the bottom water fluctuates more than 1 °C with a semi-diurnal tidal cyclicity. Amplitudes of average and peak current speeds here are comparable with those measured on the southwest margin, but the residual current in this area is directed to the northeast. Tidal currents and internal waves at both margins force the formation of intermediate and bottom nepheloid layers and bring fresh food particles with increased velocity to the mounds. The distribution of corals in both mound areas is considered directly related to the presence of enhanced turbidity. An increase in temperature can be directly related to an increase in the amount of particles in the water column. Current velocity increases when a transition occurs from cold to warm waters. High current velocities prevent local sedimentation but provide sufficient food particles to the corals, so that the corals thrive at the mound summits.  相似文献   

17.
Eighteen Degree Water (EDW) is the dominant subtropical mode water of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre and is hypothesized as an interannual reservoir of anomalous heat, nutrients and CO2. Although isolated beneath the stratified upper-ocean at the end of each winter, EDW may re-emerge in subsequent years to influence mixed layer properties and consequently air–sea interaction and primary productivity. Here we report on recent quasi-Lagrangian measurements of EDW circulation and stratification in the western subtropical gyre using an array of acoustically-tracked, isotherm-following, bobbing profiling floats programmed to track and intensively sample the vertically homogenized EDW layer and directly measure velocity on the 18.5 °C isothermal surface.The majority of the CLIVAR Mode Water Dynamics Experiment (CLIMODE) bobbers drifted within the subtropical gyre for 2.5–3.5 years, many exhibiting complex looping patterns indicative of an energetic eddy field. Bobber-derived Lagrangian integral time and length scales (3 days, 68 km) associated with motion on 18.5 °C were consistent with previous measurements in the Gulf Stream extension region and fall between previous estimates at the ocean surface and thermocline depth. Several bobbers provided evidence of long-lived submesoscale coherent vortices associated with substantial EDW thickness. While the relative importance of such vortices remains to be determined, our observations indicate that these features can have a profound effect on EDW distribution. EDW thickness (defined using a vertical temperature gradient criterion) exhibits seasonal changes in opposition to a layer bounded by the 17 °C and 19 °C isotherms. In particular, EDW thickness is generally greatest in winter (as a result of buoyancy-forced convection), while the 17°–19 °C layer is thickest in summer consistent with seasonal Ekman pumping. Contrary to previous hypotheses, the bobber data suggest that a substantial fraction of subducted EDW is isolated from the atmosphere for periods of less than 24 months. Seasonal-to-biennial re-emergence (principally within the recirculation region south of the Gulf Stream) appears to be a common scenario which should be considered when assessing the climatic and biogeochemical consequences of EDW.  相似文献   

18.
The Wyville Thomson Ridge forms part of the barrier to the meridional circulation across which cold Nordic Sea and Arctic water must traverse to reach the Atlantic Ocean. Overflow rates across the ridge are variable (but can be dramatic at times), and may provide a subtle indicator of significant change in the circulation in response to climate change. In spring 2003, a series of CTD sections were conducted during a large overflow event in which Norwegian Sea Deep Water (NSDW) cascaded down the southern side of the ridge into the Rockall Trough at a rate of between 1 and 2 Sv. The NSDW was partially mixed with overlying North Atlantic Water (NAW), and comprised about 1/3rd of the cascading water. The components of NAW and NSDW in the overflow were sufficiently large that there must have been a significant divergence of the inflow through the Faroe-Shetland Channel, and of the outflow through the Faroe Bank Channel.As the plume descended, its temperature near the sea bed warmed by over 3 °C in about a day. Although the slope was quite steep (0.03), the mean speed of the current (typically 0.36 m s−1) was too slow for significant entrainment of NAW to occur (the bulk Richardson number was of order 5). However, very large overturns (up to 50 m) were evident in some CTD profiles, and it is demonstrated from Thorpe scale estimates that the warming of the bottom waters was due to mixing within the plume. It is likely that some of the NSDW had mixed with NAW before it crossed the ridge. The overflow was trapped in a gully, which caused it to descend to great depth (1700 m) at a faster rate, and with less modification due to entrainment, than other overflows in the North Atlantic. The water that flowed into the northern part of the Rockall Trough had a temperature profile that ranged from about 3 to 8 °C. Water with a temperature of >6 °C probably escaped into the Iceland Basin, between the banks that line the north-western part of the Trough. Colder water (< 6 °C) must have travelled down the eastern side of the Rockall Bank, and may have had a volume flux of up to 1.5 Sv.  相似文献   

19.
A 30-month time series of mean volume backscattering strength (MVBS) data obtained from moored acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) is used to analyze the evolution of vertically migrating scattering layers and their seasonal and annual variability in the Arabian and Oman Seas. Substantial diel vertical migration (DVM) is observed almost every day at all three mooring sites. Two daytime layers (Layers D1 and D2) and one nighttime layer (Layer E1) are typically present. The greatest biomass is observed near the surface during the night in Layer E1 and at depth between 250 and 450 m during the daytime in Layer D2. All layers are deepest during the spring inter-monsoon and shallowest during the summer/fall southwest monsoon (SWM). Seasonal modulation of the D2 biomass change is evident in our high-resolution data. The lowest biomass in D2 is measured in the early summer (May or June) followed by a rapid biomass increase during the SWM (June–November) until the biomass reaches a maximum at the end of the SWM season. Short-period oscillations in D2 biomass are often seen with periods ranging from days to one month. Occasionally, a lower nighttime layer E2 is formed between 180 and 270 m, mostly near the time of full moons. The upper daytime layer D1 is centered at 200 m and densely concentrated. It is only formed during the winter northeast monsoon (NEM) and the spring inter-monsoon. The influence of physical processes on layer distribution is also investigated. Interestingly, the two daytime layers are found to be formed at the two boundaries of the Persian Gulf outflow water (PGW) and follow the seasonal depth change of the PGW. The timing of the DVM and the formation, persistence, decay and reformation of the deep scattering layers seem to be governed by light, both solar and lunar. The scattering strength, the layer depth and the layer thickness are likewise closely related to the Moon phase at night. Cloud coverage, the isotherm and the isohaline also appear to affect the distribution and depth of the scattering layers. The continuous multiple-year acoustic data from ADCPs allow us, for the first time, to study the seasonal and annual variations of scattering layers in this region.  相似文献   

20.
In the Eastern North Atlantic Ocean iron (Fe) speciation was investigated in three size fractions: the dissolvable from unfiltered samples, the dissolved fraction (<0.2 μm) and the fraction smaller than 1000 kDa (<1000 kDa). Fe concentrations were measured by flow injection analysis and the organic Fe complexation by voltammetry. In the research area the water column consisted of North Atlantic Central Water (NACW), below which Mediterranean Overflow Water (MOW) was found with the core between 800 and 1000 m depth. Below 2000 m depth the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) proper was recognised. Dissolved Fe and Fe in the <1000 kDa fraction showed a nutrient like profile, depleted at the surface, increasing until 500–1000 m depth below which the concentration remained constant. Fe in unfiltered samples clearly showed the MOW with high concentrations (4 nM) compared to the overlying NACW and the underlying NADW, with 0.9 nM and 2 nM Fe, respectively. By using excess ligand (Excess L) concentrations as parameter we show a potential to bind Fe. The surface mixed layer had the highest excess ligand concentrations in all size fractions due to phytoplankton uptake and possible ligand production. The ratio of Excess L over Fe proved to be a complementary tool in revealing the relative saturation state of the ligands with Fe. In the whole water column, the organic ligands in the larger colloidal fraction (between 0.2 μm and 1000 kDa) were saturated with Fe, whereas those in the smallest fraction (<1000 kDa) were not saturated with Fe, confirming that this fraction was the most reactive one and regulates dissolution and colloid aggregation and scavenging processes. This regulation was remarkably stable with depth since the alpha factor (product of Excess L and K′), expressing the reactivity of the ligands, did not vary and was 1013. Whereas, in the NACW and the MOW, the ligands in the particulate (>0.2 μm) fraction were unsaturated with Fe with respect to the dissolved fraction, thus these waters had a scavenging potential.  相似文献   

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