scholarly journals Oxygen Utilization and Downward Carbon Flux in an Oxygen-Depleted Eddy in the Eastern Tropical North Atlantic

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Fiedler ◽  
D. Grundle ◽  
F. Schütte ◽  
J. Karstensen ◽  
C. R. Löscher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Euphotic Zone ◽  
Shallow Depth ◽  
Surface Mixed Layer ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Oxygen Utilization ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic

Abstract. The occurrence of mesoscale eddies that develop an extreme low oxygen environment at shallow depth (about 40 to 100 m) has recently been reported for the eastern tropical North Atlantic (ETNA). Their hydrographic structure suggests that the water mass inside the eddy is well isolated from ambient waters supporting the development of severe near-surface oxygen deficits. So far, hydrographic and biogeochemical characterization of these eddies was limited to a few autonomous surveys, using moorings, underwater gliders and profiling floats. In this study we present results from the first dedicated biogeochemical survey of one of these eddies conducted in March 2014 near the Cape Verde Ocean Observatory (CVOO). At the time of the survey the eddy core showed lowest oxygen concentrations of less than 5 μmol kg−1 and a pH of approx. 7.6 at the lower boundary of the euphotic zone. Correspondingly, the aragonite saturation level dropped to 1 thereby creating unfavorable conditions for calcifying organisms at this shallow depth. To our knowledge, such enhanced acidity within near-surface waters has never been reported before for the open Atlantic Ocean. Vertical distributions of particulate and dissolved organic matter (POM, DOM) generally show elevated concentrations in the surface mixed layer, but particularly DOM also accumulates beneath the oxygen minimum. Considering reference data from the upwelling region where these eddies are formed, we determined the oxygen consumption through remineralization of organic matter and found an enhancement of apparent oxygen utilization rates (aOUR, 0.26 μmol kg−1 d−1) by almost one order of magnitude when compared with typical values for the open North Atlantic. Computed downward fluxes for particulate organic carbon (POC) at 100 m were about 0.19 to 0.23 g C m−2 d−1 which clearly exceed fluxes typical for an oligotrophic open ocean setting. The observations support the view that the oxygen depleted eddies can be viewed as isolated, westwards propagating upwelling systems as their own.

scholarly journals Oxygen utilization and downward carbon flux in an oxygen-depleted eddy in the eastern tropical North Atlantic

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5633-5647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Fiedler ◽  
Damian S. Grundle ◽  
Florian Schütte ◽  
Johannes Karstensen ◽  
Carolin R. Löscher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Surface Mixed Layer ◽  
Oxygen Utilization ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Underwater Gliders ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Oxygen Utilization Rate

Abstract. The occurrence of mesoscale eddies that develop suboxic environments at shallow depth (about 40–100 m) has recently been reported for the eastern tropical North Atlantic (ETNA). Their hydrographic structure suggests that the water mass inside the eddy is well isolated from ambient waters supporting the development of severe near-surface oxygen deficits. So far, hydrographic and biogeochemical characterization of these eddies was limited to a few autonomous surveys, with the use of moorings, underwater gliders and profiling floats. In this study we present results from the first dedicated biogeochemical survey of one of these eddies conducted in March 2014 near the Cape Verde Ocean Observatory (CVOO). During the survey the eddy core showed oxygen concentrations as low as 5 µmol kg−1 with a pH of around 7.6 at approximately 100 m depth. Correspondingly, the aragonite saturation level dropped to 1 at the same depth, thereby creating unfavorable conditions for calcifying organisms. To our knowledge, such enhanced acidity within near-surface waters has never been reported before for the open Atlantic Ocean. Vertical distributions of particulate organic matter and dissolved organic matter (POM and DOM), generally showed elevated concentrations in the surface mixed layer (0–70 m), with DOM also accumulating beneath the oxygen minimum. With the use of reference data from the upwelling region where these eddies are formed, the oxygen utilization rate was calculated by determining oxygen consumption through the remineralization of organic matter. Inside the core, we found these rates were almost 1 order of magnitude higher (apparent oxygen utilization rate (aOUR); 0.26 µmol kg−1 day−1) than typical values for the open North Atlantic. Computed downward fluxes for particulate organic carbon (POC), were around 0.19 to 0.23 g C m−2 day−1 at 100 m depth, clearly exceeding fluxes typical for an oligotrophic open-ocean setting. The observations support the view that the oxygen-depleted eddies can be viewed as isolated, westwards propagating upwelling systems of their own, thereby represent re-occurring alien biogeochemical environments in the ETNA.

scholarly journals Particle export fluxes to the oxygen minimum zone of the eastern tropical North Atlantic

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1825-1838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Engel ◽  
Hannes Wagner ◽  
Frédéric A. C. Le Moigne ◽  
Samuel T. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Organic Phosphorus ◽  
Euphotic Zone ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Organic Matter Quality ◽  
B Values ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic ◽  
Particle Export

Abstract. In the ocean, sinking of particulate organic matter (POM) drives carbon export from the euphotic zone and supplies nutrition to mesopelagic communities, the feeding and degradation activities of which in turn lead to export flux attenuation. Oxygen (O2) minimum zones (OMZs) with suboxic water layers (< 5 µmol O2 kg−1) show a lower carbon flux attenuation compared to well-oxygenated waters (> 100 µmol O2 kg−1), supposedly due to reduced heterotrophic activity. This study focuses on sinking particle fluxes through hypoxic mesopelagic waters (< 60 µmol O2 kg−1); these represent  ∼  100 times more ocean volume globally compared to suboxic waters, but they have less been studied. Particle export fluxes and attenuation coefficients were determined in the eastern tropical North Atlantic (ETNA) using two surface-tethered drifting sediment trap arrays with seven trapping depths located between 100 and 600 m. Data on particulate matter fluxes were fitted to the normalized power function Fz =  F100 (z∕100)−b, with F100 being the flux at a depth (z) of 100 m and b being the attenuation coefficient. Higher b values suggest stronger flux attenuation and are influenced by factors such as faster degradation at higher temperatures. In this study, b values of organic carbon fluxes varied between 0.74 and 0.80 and were in the intermediate range of previous reports, but lower than expected from seawater temperatures within the upper 500 m. During this study, highest b values were determined for fluxes of particulate hydrolyzable amino acids (PHAA), followed by particulate organic phosphorus (POP), nitrogen (PN), carbon (POC), chlorophyll a (Chl a) and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), pointing to a sequential degradation of organic matter components during sinking. Our study suggests that in addition to O2 concentration, organic matter composition co-determines transfer efficiency through the mesopelagic. The magnitude of future carbon export fluxes may therefore also depend on how organic matter quality in the surface ocean changes under influence of warming, acidification and enhanced stratification.

scholarly journals Open ocean dead-zone in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 17391-17411 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Karstensen ◽  
B. Fiedler ◽  
F. Schütte ◽  
P. Brandt ◽  
A. Körtzinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Layer ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Dead Zone ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Euphotic Zone ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic ◽  
Swirl Velocity

Abstract. The intermittent appearances of low oxygen environments are a particular thread for marine ecosystems. Here we present first observations of unexpected low (<2 μmol kg-1) oxygen environments in the open waters of the eastern tropical North Atlantic, a region where typically oxygen concentration does not fall below 40 μmol kg-1. The low oxygen zones are created just below the mixed-layer, in the euphotic zone of high productive cyclonic and anticyclonic-modewater eddies. A dynamic boundary is created from the large swirl-velocity against the weak background flow. Hydrographic properties within the eddies are kept constant over periods of several months, while net respiration is elevated by a factor of 3 to 5 reducing the oxygen content. We repeatedly observed low oxygen eddies in the region. The direct impact on the ecosystem is evident from anomalous backscatter behaviour. Satellite derived global eddy statistics do not allow to estimate the large-scale impact of the eddies because their vertical structure (mixed-layer depth, euphotic depth) play a key role in creating the low oxygen environment.

scholarly journals Open ocean dead zones in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2597-2605 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Karstensen ◽  
B. Fiedler ◽  
F. Schütte ◽  
P. Brandt ◽  
A. Körtzinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Dead Zone ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Dead Zones ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic

Abstract. Here we present first observations, from instrumentation installed on moorings and a float, of unexpectedly low (<2 μmol kg−1) oxygen environments in the open waters of the tropical North Atlantic, a region where oxygen concentration does normally not fall much below 40 μmol kg−1. The low-oxygen zones are created at shallow depth, just below the mixed layer, in the euphotic zone of cyclonic eddies and anticyclonic-modewater eddies. Both types of eddies are prone to high surface productivity. Net respiration rates for the eddies are found to be 3 to 5 times higher when compared with surrounding waters. Oxygen is lowest in the centre of the eddies, in a depth range where the swirl velocity, defining the transition between eddy and surroundings, has its maximum. It is assumed that the strong velocity at the outer rim of the eddies hampers the transport of properties across the eddies boundary and as such isolates their cores. This is supported by a remarkably stable hydrographic structure of the eddies core over periods of several months. The eddies propagate westward, at about 4 to 5 km day−1, from their generation region off the West African coast into the open ocean. High productivity and accompanying respiration, paired with sluggish exchange across the eddy boundary, create the "dead zone" inside the eddies, so far only reported for coastal areas or lakes. We observe a direct impact of the open ocean dead zones on the marine ecosystem as such that the diurnal vertical migration of zooplankton is suppressed inside the eddies.

scholarly journals C<sub>5</sub> glycolipids of heterocystous cyanobacteria track symbiont abundance in the diatom <i>Hemiaulus hauckii</i> across the tropical North Atlantic

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1229-1241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole J. Bale ◽  
Tracy A. Villareal ◽  
Ellen C. Hopmans ◽  
Corina P. D. Brussaard ◽  
Marc Besseling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Surface Sediment ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Heterocystous Cyanobacteria ◽  
Plume Region ◽  
Suspended Particulate ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic ◽  
Diatom Genus ◽  
Extensive Surface ◽  
Long Chain

Abstract. Diatom–diazotroph associations (DDAs) include marine heterocystous cyanobacteria found as exosymbionts and endosymbionts in multiple diatom species. Heterocysts are the site of N2 fixation and have thickened cell walls containing unique heterocyst glycolipids which maintain a low oxygen environment within the heterocyst. The endosymbiotic cyanobacterium Richelia intracellularis found in species of the diatom genus Hemiaulus and Rhizosolenia makes heterocyst glycolipids (HGs) which are composed of C30 and C32 diols and triols with pentose (C5) moieties that are distinct from limnetic cyanobacterial HGs with predominantly hexose (C6) moieties. Here we applied a method for analysis of intact polar lipids to the study of HGs in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and surface sediment from across the tropical North Atlantic. The study focused on the Amazon plume region, where DDAs are documented to form extensive surface blooms, in order to examine the utility of C5 HGs as markers for DDAs as well as their transportation to underlying sediments. C30 and C32 triols with C5 pentose moieties were detected in both marine SPM and surface sediments. We found a significant correlation between the water column concentration of these long-chain C5 HGs and DDA symbiont counts. In particular, the concentrations of both the C5 HGs (1-(O-ribose)-3,27,29-triacontanetriol (C5 HG30 triol) and 1-(O-ribose)-3,29,31-dotriacontanetriol (C5 HG32 triol)) in SPM exhibited a significant correlation with the number of Hemiaulus hauckii symbionts. This result strengthens the idea that long-chain C5 HGs can be applied as biomarkers for marine endosymbiotic heterocystous cyanobacteria. The presence of the same C5 HGs in surface sediment provides evidence that they are effectively transported to the sediment and hence have potential as biomarkers for studies of the contribution of DDAs to the paleo-marine N cycle.

scholarly journals In situ observations show vertical community structure of pelagic fauna in the eastern tropical North Atlantic off Cape Verde

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. T. Hoving ◽  
P. Neitzel ◽  
H. Hauss ◽  
S. Christiansen ◽  
R. Kiko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic ◽  
Minimum Zone

AbstractDistribution patterns of fragile gelatinous fauna in the open ocean remain scarcely documented. Using epi-and mesopelagic video transects in the eastern tropical North Atlantic, which features a mild but intensifying midwater oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), we established one of the first regional observations of diversity and abundance of large gelatinous zooplankton. We quantified the day and night vertical distribution of 46 taxa in relation to environmental conditions. While distribution may be driven by multiple factors, abundance peaks of individual taxa were observed in the OMZ core, both above and below the OMZ, only above, or only below the OMZ whereas some taxa did not have an obvious distribution pattern. In the eastern eropical North Atlantic, OMZ expansion in the course of global climate change may detrimentally impact taxa that avoid low oxygen concentrations (Beroe, doliolids), but favour taxa that occur in the OMZ (Lilyopsis, phaeodarians, Cydippida, Colobonema, Haliscera conica and Halitrephes) as their habitat volume might increase. While future efforts need to focus on physiology and taxonomy of pelagic fauna in the study region, our study presents biodiversity and distribution data for the regional epi- and mesopelagic zones of Cape Verde providing a regional baseline to monitor how climate change may impact the largest habitat on the planet, the deep pelagic realm.

scholarly journals Author Correction: Low oxygen eddies in the eastern tropical North Atlantic: Implications for N2O cycling

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Grundle ◽  
C. R. Löscher ◽  
G. Krahmann ◽  
M. A. Altabet ◽  
H. W. Bange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic

scholarly journals Photochemical production of ammonium in the oligotrophic Cyprus Gyre (Eastern Mediterranean)

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-474
Author(s):  
V. Kitidis ◽  
G. Uher ◽  
R. C. Upstill-Goddard ◽  
R. F. C. Mantoura ◽  
G. Spyres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dissolved Organic Matter ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Light Attenuation ◽  
Euphotic Zone ◽  
Surface Mixed Layer ◽  
New Production ◽  
Light Absorbance ◽  
Local Noon

Abstract. We investigated the photoproduction of ammonium (NH4+) in surface waters of the Cyprus gyre in the central Eastern Mediterranean in May 2002, in 8 on deck irradiations with freshly collected, filtered samples. NH4+ photoproduction (photoammonification) increased with time-integrated irradiance during the course of irradiations. Photoammonification rates around local noon were 0.4–2.9 nmol L−1 h−1. Normalised to time integrated irradiance, these rates were 0.9–3.8 pmol L−1 h−1/(W m−2) and were significantly correlated with Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) absorbance at 300 nm normalised to Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC). These results are consistent with the notion that successive CDOM photobleaching in the surface mixed layer results in decreased DOC-normalised light absorbance concurrent with decreased dissolved organic matter reactivity with regard to photochemical NH4+ release. Combining our experimental data with estimates of annual solar irradiance and water column light attenuation yields an annual photoammonification rate for the Cyprus Gyre of 40±17 mmol m−2 a−1, equivalent to ~12±5% of the previously estimated annual nitrogen requirement of new production in this region. Based on this analysis, NH4+ photoproduction makes a small, but significant contribution to the nitrogen budget of the euphotic zone in the oligotrophic Cyprus Gyre.

scholarly journals Vertically migrating phytoplankton drive seasonal formation of subsurface negative preformed nitrate anomalies in the subtropical North Pacific and North Atlantic

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert T. Letscher ◽  
Tracy A. Villareal
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Euphotic Zone ◽  
The North ◽  
Station Aloha ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

Abstract. Summertime drawdown of dissolved inorganic carbon in the absence of measurable nutrients from the mixed layer and subsurface negative preformed nitrate (preNO3) anomalies observed for the ocean's subtropical gyres are two biogeochemical phenomena that have thus far eluded complete description. Many processes are thought to contribute including biological nitrogen fixation, lateral nutrient transport, carbon overconsumption or non-Redfield C : N : P organic matter cycling, heterotrophic nutrient uptake, and the actions of vertically migrating phytoplankton. Here we investigate the seasonal formation rates and potential contributing mechanisms for negative preformed nitrate anomalies (oxygen consumption without stoichiometric nitrate release) in the subsurface and positive preformed nitrate anomalies (oxygen production without stoichiometric nitrate drawdown) in the euphotic zone at the subtropical ocean time series stations ALOHA in the North Pacific and BATS in the North Atlantic. Non-Redfield −O2 : N stoichiometry for dissolved organic matter (DOM) remineralization is found to account for up to ~ 15 mmol N m−2 yr−1 of negative preNO3 anomaly formation at both stations. Residual negative preNO3 anomalies in excess of that which can be accounted for by non-Redfield DOM cycling are found to accumulate at a rate of ~ 32–46 mmol N m−2 yr−1 at station ALOHA and ~ 46–87 mmol N m−2 yr−1 at the BATS station. These negative anomaly formation rates are in approximate balance with positive preNO3 anomaly formation rates from the euphotic zone located immediately above the nutricline in the water column. Cycling of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and heterotrophic nitrate uptake can contribute to the formation of these preNO3 anomalies, however a significant fraction, estimated at ~ 50–95 %, is unexplained by the sum of these processes. Vertically migrating phytoplankton possess the necessary nutrient acquisition strategy and biogeochemical signature to quantitatively explain both the residual negative and positive preNO3 anomalies as well as the mixed layer dissolved inorganic carbon drawdown at stations ALOHA and BATS. TEP production by the model Rhizosolenia mat system could provide accelerated vertical transport of TEP as well as link the three processes together. Phytoplankton vertical migrators, although rare and easily overlooked, may play a large role in subtropical ocean nutrient cycling and the biological pump.

scholarly journals Effects of nitrate and phosphate supply on chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Eastern Tropical North Atlantic: a mesocosm study

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 7209-7255
Author(s):  
A. N. Loginova ◽  
C. Borchard ◽  
J. Meyer ◽  
H. Hauss ◽  
R. Kiko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Optical Properties ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dissolved Organic Matter ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic

Abstract. The Eastern Tropical North Atlantic (ETNA) is an open ocean region with little input of terrestrial dissolved organic matter (DOM), suggesting that pelagic production has to be the main source of DOM. Inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP) concentrations affect pelagic production, leading to DOM modifications. The quantitative and qualitative changes in DOM are often estimated by its optical properties. Colored DOM (CDOM) is often used to estimate dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations by applied techniques, e.g. through remote sensing, whereas DOM properties, such as molecular weight, can be estimated from the slopes of the CDOM absorption spectra (S). Fluorescence properties of CDOM (FDOM) allow discriminating between different structural CDOM properties. The investigation of distribution and cycling of CDOM and FDOM was recognized to be important for understanding of physical and biogeochemical processes, influencing DOM. However, little information is available about effects of nutrient variability on CDOM and FDOM dynamics. Here we present results from two mesocosm experiments conducted with a natural plankton community of the ETNA, where effects of DIP ("Varied P") and DIN ("Varied N") supply on optical properties of DOM were studied. CDOM accumulated proportionally to phytoplankton biomass during the experiments. S decreased over time indicating accumulation of high molecular weight DOM. In Varied N, an additional CDOM portion, as a result of bacterial DOM reworking, was determined. It increased the CDOM fraction in DOC proportionally to the supplied DIN. The humic-like FDOM component (Comp.1) was derived by bacteria proportionally to DIN supply. The bound-to-protein amino acid-like FDOM component (Comp.2) was released irrespectively to phytoplankton biomass, but depending on DIP and DIN concentrations, as a part of an overflow mechanism. Under high DIN supply, Comp.2 was removed by bacterial reworking processes, leading to an accumulation of humic-like Comp.1. No influence of nutrient availability on amino acid-like FDOM component in peptide form (Comp.3) was observed. Comp.3 potentially acted as an intermediate product during formation or degradation Comp.2. Our findings suggest that changes in nutrient concentrations may lead to substantial responses in the quantity and "quality" of optically active DOM and, therefore, might bias results of the applied techniques for an estimation of DOC concentrations in open ocean regions.

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